Types of Email Marketing Campaigns You Should Know

Types of Email Marketing Campaigns: Everything You Need to Know

Email marketing is an effective tool for reaching your target audience and promoting your products or services. It is a powerful tool that can help you increase customer engagement, boost sales, and grow your business. There are several types of email marketing campaigns you can employ. However, with so many types of email campaigns available, it can be hard to know where to start. Which type of message should you send? When should you send it? How do you ensure each campaign reaches the right people?

In this guide, we answer all these questions and more. We walk through the different types of email campaign options so that you can craft messages that will resonate with your customers and drive meaningful results for your business. Let’s get started!

 

1. Newsletters

Newsletters are one of the most common types of email campaigns. Essentially, a newsletter is a type of email campaign that helps a business stay in touch with existing and potential customers.

It involves sending a curated selection of information to subscribers regularly, such as updates about your products and services, special offers, company news, industry trends, your latest news, initiatives, and promotions.

Typically, businesses send newsletters on a weekly or monthly basis. However, you can opt to send them more or less frequently. An effective component of your content marketing strategy, newsletters give you opportunities to get your pillar-based content in front of your loyal subscriber audience. The frequency depends on the specific needs and strategies of your business. The goal is to keep subscribers informed and engaged—not overwhelm them with too much information.

 

The Key to a Good Newsletter

The key to writing a good newsletter is to make sure that all the information you provide is relevant and interesting.

First, your content should be organized neatly, with a clear structure and focus on key topics. Next, it’s a good idea to include links at the end of each newsletter so that readers can easily find more information or take further action. For example, include a link to sign up for an event or a link to purchase a product mentioned in the newsletter.

Unfortunately, some people doubt newsletters are still effective. However, Digital Connecting Mag says, “When done correctly, newsletters can accelerate business growth.” It’s true, they are still a great way to stay in touch with customers and keep them informed about your business. In other words, they’re a great way to stay on your customers’ radar and keep your brand strong.

 

 

Jemully Email Marketing Campaign Subscriptions
Jemully Email Marketing Campaign Subscriptions

 

2. Announcements

Another type of email campaign used to promote special offers or events is announcements. For instance, your business may want to announce a launch, a sale, a guest speaker, an in-person or online event, or an occasion of community involvement. Different from newsletters, these email campaigns are sent on an ad hoc basis and can be tailored to the specific message or offer you want to highlight.

Announcements are great for generating excitement and driving sales, so they can be especially effective during peak shopping times such as Black Friday. Also, they’re important for product launches and special events, where you want to ensure that your message reaches the right people.

 

The Key to Announcement Emails

Remember, announcement emails should always be targeted, concise, and attention-grabbing. The aim is to draw people’s attention quickly so that they click through to your website or landing page. You should also include a clear call-to-action, such as “Sign up now” or “Get your gift”.

To make this campaign effective, use it sparingly. If you’re constantly bombarding your audience with announcements, they’re likely to become annoyed and unsubscribe. It’s important to strike the right balance between informative newsletters and promotional announcements.

 

3. Automated Emails

To incorporate automated emails into your newsletter repertoire, begin by creating pre-written emails that are automatically sent out when certain conditions are met. For example, when someone signs up for your mailing list, purchases a product, or abandons their shopping cart.

These types of emails are effective and efficient. For one thing, they personalize your communication based on their actions. Additionally, you engage your customers with timely information that is relevant to their interests.

Consider, automated emails can be used to send out a welcome email when someone signs up for your mailing list. Another example is thank-you emails after an order is placed. And finally, an email after customers leave items in their shopping carts. This type of email automation is very popular with many marketing professionals. To learn more about their expertise, read some of their recent interviews on this link.

 

Other Applications of Automated Emails

To increase sales, automated emails can also be used to send out product recommendations or special offers tailored to each customer’s interests. This application of email newsletters encourages customers to purchase additional products and services.

To re-engage inactive customers, schedule automated emails to remind them of your brand.

Overall, automated emails ensure that you’re providing customers with a personalized and tailored experience. Plus, they increase engagement and foster brand loyalty.

 

Jemully Email Marketing Campaign Options
Jemully Email Marketing Campaign Options

4. Transactional Emails

Transactional emails are those sent out when someone takes an action or engages in some kind of transaction with your business. These emails typically involve updates, notifications, or confirmations about specific orders, purchases, or subscriptions.

To keep customers informed and reassured, transactional emails play an important role. Customers will be informed that their order has been received, that their payment was successfully processed, or that their subscription was renewed.

If you’re running a Shopify development agency, transactional emails can also be used to provide important updates about orders and shipments. For businesses working with you, these emails provide an additional layer of detail and reassurance, as they demonstrate that their order is being taken care of.


The Key to Effective Transactional Emails

Transactional emails should always be timely, relevant, and clear. They should contain all the information a customer needs to track their order or understand what’s happening with their subscription.

For excellent customer service, transactional emails are an essential element in the customer experience. They provide feedback that lets them know their order is being taken care of.


5. Follow-up emails

Follow-up emails are used to stay in touch with customers and encourage further interaction after a sale has been made. It’s more cost-effective to retain existing customers than to constantly acquire new ones. Consider, in a recent Forbes article, “Fewer resources are required to retain a customer. Customer retention usually requires a customer success department to periodically check in and a support team to sort out periodic issues or bugs.” In this example, a follow-up email is an effective tool to accomplish the task.

It’s also a better testament to the quality of your brand and products, as a satisfied customer is more likely to recommend you to others. And follow-up emails provide a perfect way to do this.

Follow-up emails can be used after a purchase is made when you want to encourage customers to leave reviews or provide feedback, or even when you want to offer customers discounts on future purchases. Also, utilize follow-up emails to stay top-of-mind and remind customers of your products and services.

They also provide the perfect opportunity to engage with existing customers, re-engage inactive customers, keep them updated on your latest products or promotions, and increase customer loyalty.


6.  Event Emails

Used to promote upcoming events such as conferences, webinars, workshops, or other special occasions, these emails are effective at generating interest and excitement. Most often, this leads to increased ticket sales or registrations.

The goal of event emails is to build anticipation and create a sense of urgency—so send them early. As a result, people will have time to plan.


The Key to Successful Event Emails

Event emails should include all the pertinent information a recipient needs to know about the event, such as location, date and time, ticket prices, and other details. They should also include a clear call-to-action (CTA) to encourage people to register or purchase tickets.

Follow-up emails are also effective for those who did not register. As a reminder, a follow-up email can increase the number who sign up.

Through event emails, you can also engage with potential attendees and encourage them to spread the word about your event. By keeping in touch and providing regular updates before, during, and after the event, you’ll be able to build excitement and ensure a successful turnout.


Summing It Up

In conclusion, email marketing is an essential part of any business strategy—and numerous types of emails can help you reach your goals. From promotional emails to transactional emails and follow-up emails, each type has its purpose and can help you engage with customers in a meaningful way.

No matter what type of email you choose to send, the key is to always provide value and stay true to your brand’s voice. With the right approach, email marketing can be an effective tool for growing your business and building relationships with customers.

Sophie Douglas
Sophie Douglas
sophiedouglasdso@gmail.com
About the Author
Sophie Douglas is a digital marketing specialist and a journalist based in Columbus, state of Ohio. Her characters are passionate, innovative, and ambitious. Before becoming a writer for DigitalStrategyOne, she was writing short stories, screenplays, and directing short films.

Book Review – Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Book Review - Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future is a book written by entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel. In the book, Thiel argues that the most important thing a startup can do is create something new and unique, rather than simply improving upon existing ideas. He calls this concept “going from zero to one,” as opposed to simply copying what has already been done.

 

STARTUPS: FIND A UNIQUE MARKET NICHE

Thiel outlines several key ideas that he believes are important for a startup to succeed. These ideas include finding a unique market niche and creating a monopoly in that niche. Also developing a culture that encourages innovation and risk-taking. He also emphasizes the importance of having a clear and compelling vision for the future. And of assembling a talented and dedicated team to help bring that vision to life.

 

THIEL PULLS FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE

Zero to One
Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Throughout the book, Thiel draws on his own experiences as a founder and investor to illustrate his points and offer practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. According to his bio on Amazon, Thiel “started PayPal in 1998, led it as CEO, and took it public in 2002, defining a new era of fast and secure online commerce.” In 2004, he made the first outside investment in Facebook, where he serves as a director. The same year, he launched Palantir Technologies, a software company that harnesses computers to empower human analysts in fields like national security and global finance. He has provided early funding for LinkedIn, Yelp, and dozens of successful technology startups. Former colleagues of his, some of whom were dubbed the “PayPal Mafia,” run many of these startups.

Thiel serves as a partner at Founders Fund, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has funded companies like SpaceX and Airbnb. He started the Thiel Fellowship, which itself ignited a national debate by encouraging young people to put learning before schooling. And he leads the Thiel Foundation, which works to advance technological progress and long-term thinking about the future.”

In Zero to One, the author covers topics such as how to develop a winning business strategy, how to raise capital, and how to navigate the challenges of scaling a company.

Overall, “Zero to One” makes a thought-provoking and insightful read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and the future of technology. Thiel’s perspective on the role of startups in shaping the future proves unique and compelling. The book offers practical advice and inspiration for anyone looking to start a company or make a difference in the world.

 

KEY POINTS IN ZERO TO ONE

For the startup entrepreneur, Thiel emphasizes the importance of creating something new and unique in the market. (Going from “zero to one” instead of competing in an already crowded market). Key lessons from the book on business marketing include:

  1. Focus on creating a monopoly: Thiel argues that a business should aim to create a monopoly in a specific market in order to maximize profits.
  2. Offer unique value: To create a monopoly, businesses need to offer something unique and valuable that sets them apart from their competitors.
  3. Build a strong brand: A strong brand helps create a monopoly and can help a business differentiate itself in the market.
  4. Network effects: Try to leverage network effects, wherein a product or service becomes more valuable as more people use it, to create a monopoly.
  5. Long-term thinking: Thiel emphasizes the importance of thinking long-term. One must avoid the trap of short-term thinking in order to build a successful business.

Overall, Zero to One offers a unique perspective on business and marketing and emphasizes the importance of creating something truly innovative and valuable in the market.

A Brief Historical Overview of Facebook with a Timeline

A Brief Historical Overview of Facebook with a Timeline

The History of Facebook – An Overview

 A quick look at the history of Facebook (the largest social platform in the world), gives us a good idea of the platform’s great influence. The social networking site known today as Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, along with Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. Today, it boasts more than 2.8 billion monthly active users, making it the largest social media platform in the world. From its humble beginnings, Facebook is now a global giant with worldwide influence.

 

2004-2005: The Origins of Facebook

Zuckerberg as a sophomore at Harvard
Zuckerberg as a sophomore at Harvard

Initially, Zuckerberg, then a sophomore at Harvard, created Facebook as a social network for students at Harvard University. He wanted a platform that would allow students to connect with one another, share information and experiences, and create a virtual campus community. In February 2004, he launched the first version of Facebook, then called Thefacebook.com.

Quickly, the early version of Facebook, available only to Harvard students, gained popularity and was expanded to other Ivy League schools. In the following months, Facebook expanded to yet other colleges and universities, allowing students from around the country to join the network.

 

2006-2008: The Newsfeed

As Facebook continued to grow, it started attracting the attention of venture capitalists and investors. In 2006, Facebook received its first investment from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, which helped the company expand its operations and reach more users.

In 2007, Facebook introduced its first major feature, the News Feed. Subsequently, this allowed users to see updates from their friends in real-time, making the platform more engaging and interactive. In the same year, Facebook also introduced the platform’s first advertising program, which allowed advertisers to reach the site’s growing user base.

 

2009-2010: global growth

By 2009, Facebook had become one of the largest social networks in the world, with over 200 million active users. In 2010, the company launched its first official mobile app, making it even easier for users to stay connected with their friends and family while on the go.

 

2011-2015: The Rise of Mobile and the IPO

Jemully IPO Facebook As smartphones became more widespread, the popularity of mobile apps also grew.  To capture the audience, Facebook adapted to the changing landscape by putting more focus on mobile. In 2012, the company went public, charting one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in history.

In 2013, Facebook acquired the popular photo-sharing app Instagram for $1 billion. As a result, this helped Facebook expand its reach and allowed the company to tap into the growing popularity of photo sharing.

In 2014, Facebook introduced a new feature called Facebook Paper, which was a news-reading app that allowed users to personalize their news feeds and discover new content. Unfortunately, Facebook Paper didn’t gain the popularity that Facebook had hoped for, and the company eventually discontinued the app.

 

2015-Present: The Rise of Virtual Reality  

Jemully Oculus VR Headset Facebook
Oculus VR Headset Facebook

In recent years, Facebook has continued to evolve and expand, introducing new features and services to meet the changing needs of its users. In 2016, Facebook embraced the big trend known as virtual reality (VR), with the company launching its Oculus VR headset in 2016.

 

THE FIGHT AGAINST MISINFORMATION

Unsurprisingly, it’s not been all rosey for Facebook. As the platform grew, the company faced increasing criticism and scrutiny over issues such as data privacy, misinformation, and the spread of fake news. In 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal came to light, revealing that the data of millions of Facebook users had been improperly collected and used for political purposes.

In response to these concerns, Facebook has made a number of changes and improvements, including increased transparency and the introduction of new features that help users identify and report misinformation. Despite these efforts, the company continues to face criticism over issues such as privacy and misinformation, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for Facebook.

Want more? Here are a few other sources that provide additional information on the history of Facebook: Britannica, Wikipedia, and This Day in History.

TIMELINE

Here is a detailed historical timeline of Facebook from its beginnings until now:

2003
2003
Mark Zuckerberg, a student at Harvard, creates Facemash, a website that allows students to compare and rate the attractiveness of their classmates.
2004
2004
Zuckerberg launches Thefacebook.com, a social networking site exclusively for Harvard students.
2005
2005
Thefacebook.com expands to other universities and changes its name to Facebook.
2006
2006

Facebook introduces the News Feed, which shows updates from friends on a user’s homepage.

2007
2007
Facebook launches the Facebook Platform, which allows third-party developers to create apps for the site.
2008
2008
Facebook surpasses MySpace as the most popular social networking site in the United States.
2010
2010
The movie The Social Network, which tells the story of Facebook’s founding, appears in theaters.
2012
2012
Facebook goes public in one of the largest IPOs in history, valued at $104 billion.
2013
2013
Facebook reaches 1 billion active users.
2014
2014
Facebook acquires WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, for $19 billion.
2015
2015
Facebook introduces live video streaming and the Reactions feature, which allows users to express emotions beyond just “liking” a post.
2016
2016
Facebook launches Facebook Marketplace, a feature that allows users to buy and sell items directly on the platform.
2018
2018
The Cambridge Analytica scandal breaks, revealing that a data analytics firm obtained and misused the personal data of millions of Facebook users.
2019
2019
Facebook reaches a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, agreeing to pay a $5 billion fine and implement new privacy measures.
2020
2020
Facebook faces criticism for its handling of misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. presidential election.
2021
2021
Facebook rebrands as Meta and announces plans to focus on virtual reality and the metaverse.

This timeline highlights some of the major events in Facebook’s history, from its humble beginnings as a college social network to its current focus on the metaverse and virtual reality. Along the way, Facebook has faced numerous challenges and controversies, but it remains one of the most influential and widely used social platforms in the world.

our facebook experience

Our team of marketers at Jemully Media has used Facebook and its business tools for more than 12 years to help our business clients stay in touch with their fans and followers. Jemully has taken team members to Facebook training events at the Facebook offices in Austin, Texas, in order to be better equipped to serve our clients. Good and/or bad, Facebook remains an important social media platform for most businesses with customer engagement and link-building for SEO. One of the questions we are often asked by clients is which is more important to a marketer: Likes or Follows? Both are important and represent a different set of data.

How to Copy Text from a LinkedIn Post on Mobile App

How to Copy Text from a LinkedIn Post on Mobile App

LinkedIn makes a great platform for finding connections in the professional world. You can easily find people and articles related to your industry. This makes LinkedIn one of the most powerful platforms for publishing content as well. Many companies and people post articles on their profiles and get their connections to spread them. For this purpose, some people, instead of sharing the link to the post, copy and paste part of the article, and share it on their profile, while linking the original author. But have you ever wondered how to copy text on LinkedIn from a mobile device?

Yes, this can be a challenge.  If you are trying to do this on mobile, you will see that you cannot copy any text because it is protected. Read on to learn how to deal with this issue and copy LinkedIn posts efficiently.

How to Copy LinkedIn Posts

We will examine two different methods of copying text from LinkedIn posts. The first method relies on a manual approach. And the second utilizes some tools to improve efficiency.

Manual Method of Copying

In the manual method, we basically copy the excerpt by hand. This involves opening the post that you want to copy and opening a word processor side by side.

The word processor can be offline or online (whichever you prefer to use). Then you have to manually type everything and copy the formatting and styling in the word processor. And that’s how you copy the post manually.

This method falls short of being easy and efficient, as it does not allow you to copy sizable portions of the text in a timely manner. You can spend the better part of an hour trying to just manually transcribe everything on a new file.

Tool-Assisted Method of Copying

The tool-assisted method helps you avoid spending more than a few minutes copying text from a LinkedIn post. You can actually, directly, copy text from an image (well somewhat directly). Below appear the steps required to follow this method.

1 – Take a Screenshot of the Post

Take a Screenshot

The first thing you need to do is to go to the post that you want to copy and take a screenshot.

Now, taking a screenshot can be done in a few ways. If you are on Windows, you can do the following:

  • Press the “Windows” + “PrntScrn” buttons to take a screenshot of the entire screen.
  • Or press the following shortcut “Windows + Shift + S” to open the snipping tool, and screenshot a particular area only.

If you are on a Mac, then do the following:

  • Press and hold these three buttons – “Shift, Command, 3” – to take a screenshot.
  • You can edit it by clicking the thumbnail on the corner of your screen.

If you are on an Android phone, then:

  • Press the “volume down” and “power” buttons at the same time to take a screenshot

If you are on an iPhone, then

  • Press the “home” and “power” buttons at the same time.

Now, you need to save the picture and move on to the next step.

2 – Go Online and Look for an Image to Text Converter
Now, you need to open a browser and, in the search engine of your choice, look up “Image to text tool.”

This should show you a list of results. Choose any free tool from the list. Most of these image-to-text converters all follow the same design philosophy. So generic instructions will work for all of them.

Image to Text Converter
Image to Text Converter

Alternatively, if you are on a phone, you can search the same phrase on your particular OS’s market place: i.e., Google play store, or Apple Appstore. Then download one of the free apps.

Google Play Store
Google Play Store
3 – Upload Your Image to the Tool/App

Now, you need to upload the screenshot that you took into the tool or mobile app, whichever you are using.

This is as basic as simply copy-pasting the image into the tool’s/app’s interface. However, some tools and apps also have advanced options for inputting images such as:

  • Using a link to an online image as an input
  • Letting users browse their devices for an image
You should use the method that is the easiest for you to input the image. As an example, we will take the excerpt of our own post (you can use it for LinkedIn) and copy it using an OCR app on a phone and on an online tool.
OCR App
OCR App - Online Tool
Photo to Text Scanner App - Apps on Google Play
Photo to Text Scanner App

4 – Submit the Image and Get the Text Output

Once you have inputted the image into the app or tool, you have to confirm your decision to extract the text from it. The tool/app will take a few seconds to process the text, and then it will give you the text output.

Submit the Image
Online Tool
Scan Results
Mobile App

“This text is edit-able and copy-able. You can use it and post it on your own profile for sharing to improve its outreach. And that’s it. With the help of tools, you can forego manual transcribing and copy text from images quickly. We also saw that the same can be done with an image-to-text app.”

Conclusion

“We have shown you how to copy text from an image using either a mobile app or an online tool. While the title of our article may have implied that this method applies only to LinkedIn posts, you can actually use this for all kinds of articles that have anti-copy measures.”

“All the tools and apps we used in this demonstration are free to use and don’t require registration, either. So, you can follow along without any issues.

And before we leave this subject (LinkedIn), we need to say it: LinkedIn makes a great platform for businesspeople. Check out our other posts on LinkedIn’s advantages.“

Author Placeholder

By EMILY LUNA – Email: emilyluna072@gmail.com

7 Tips to Stay Focused on a Working Vacation

Seven Tips for Staying on Task When on a Working Vacation

Part blessing and part curse, but generally a delight regardless, a working vacation ticks all the right boxes for many a worker. On one hand, you get to enjoy your vacation while still producing results. On the other hand, you find yourself challenged to balance work and leisure, particularly if you travel with others. To help you stay on task and ensure your working vacation falls more on the blessing side, consider these seven tips.

1 – Set clear work hours

To avoid and imbalance of work and play, set clear work hours for yourself. By setting work hours, you plan leisure time accordingly. Clear working hours on a working vacation ensure you maintain a healthy work-life balance. With planning, a schedule allows you to enjoy your time off and traveling companions. Set clear working hours in these three ways:

  1. Establish a schedule: Create a work schedule that outlines your total allowable working hours and the times when you will be available for work-related tasks. Stick to your schedule as much as possible to avoid working outside of designated hours.
  2. Communicate with colleagues: Inform your colleagues about your working hours and let them know your availability to respond to messages and emails. Make sure to set expectations about your response time. And establish boundaries to avoid being overwhelmed with work tasks.
  3. Utilize technology: Use technology to your advantage to help manage your workload and avoid working outside of designated hours. Set up email filters or notifications to alert you only during work hours. Also, use productivity tools to help you stay on task and avoid distractions during designated working hours.

2 – Plan ahead for your working vacation

Before your vacation, make a list of tasks you need to complete as you travel. By outlining your tasks, you hit the ground running and stay focused on your work. Planning tasks helps you maximize a working vacation in several ways:

  1. Prioritization: By planning ahead, you prioritize work based on importance, urgency, and feasibility. This allows you to focus on the most critical tasks and complete them efficiently.
  2. Time management: Additionally, planning tasks helps your efficiency by allocating specific time blocks for work and leisure. This ensures that you complete work on time while also scheduling time for relaxation and pleasure.
  3. Reduce stress: To reduce stress, implement a clear plan for your tasks. By doing this, you accomplish your work in a more organized and relaxed manner.
  4. Increase productivity: With a clear plan in place, efficiency and productivity increase. Therefore, avoid wasting time on less important tasks and stay focused on completing priorities.

3 – Create a designated workspace

If you’re staying in a hotel or Airbnb, set up a designated workspace where you can work efficiently. If you do, you realize several benefits, including:

  1. Increased productivity: Once again, productivity carries a high value on a working vacation. When you designate a workspace, you separate your work life from your vacation life. Consequently, this increases focus as it reduces distractions by the various leisure activities and sights around you.
  2. Better work-life balance: By creating a designated workspace, you set specific hours for work. Stick to them, so there is time to enjoy your vacation fully without work guilt or work stress.
  3. Reduce stress: When you have a designated workspace, you reduce the stress of trying to find a place to work. Each time you plan to set up for work, you won’t seek out a new quiet space, nor spend time looking for the tools you need to complete your tasks.
  4. Improve organization: Once defined, your designated workspace keeps you organized as you have identified things you need to work such as wall outlets, access to refreshments, and a lovely, but not-too-distracting view.
Working Vacation designated workspace
Working Vacation designated workspace

4 – Disconnect from distractions

To begin, the goal of a working vacation is to balance work and leisure activities. Be sure to prioritize self-care and relaxation to make the most of your time off.

  1. Turn off notifications: The notifications from your phone easily rank as the simplest and most intrusive distractors. Turn them off when you sit down to work.
  2. Log out of social media:  While you work, log out of all social platforms, so you are not tempted to share a selfie or engage with a friend.
  3. Reduce the sensory distractions: 
    1. Next, consider using noise-canceling headphones to block out any distracting sounds.
    2. Lastly, don’t park yourself in a location where the view opens to a lot of activity that can pull your attention away from work.
Working Vacation Distractions
Working Vacation Distractions

5 – Take breaks

Just as in the office, while on a working vacation, take regular breaks during your work sessions.

  1. Work in increments: For example, set your timer for 45 minutes of focused, productive work. Then, take a 15-minute walk around the property to recharge your creative batteries.
  2. Schedule a coffee break:  For this, plan ahead to grab a coffee or refreshment after you complete a specific task. These little rewards balance your work and vacation pleasure in doses.
  3. Plan an activity: To increase your level of satisfaction, plan your workday around longer breaks for meals or leisure activities.

6 – Avoid procrastination

Put off the temptation to procrastinate. Instead, get your work done first thing in the morning. This way, you can enjoy your day without the weight of work hanging over you.

7 – Stay organized

Keep your workspace and schedule organized to maximize productivity and avoid wasting time.

Finally, set realistic goals for yourself. Don’t expect to complete all of your work in one day. Prioritize and set achievable goals so that you can stay motivated and on track.

The Working Vacation: A Vacay That Works

In conclusion, a working vacation can be a great way to get work done while still enjoying your time off. Honestly, many travelers who happen also to be workers find themselves doing a certain amount of work on their travels anyway.

They do this even without having declared the trip a “working vacation.” So, in some ways, calling it by its rightful name helps one take ownership of it. And make the most of it.

By setting clear work hours, planning ahead, creating a designated workspace, and disconnecting from distractions, you can stay on task and make the most of your vacation. While you plan your trip, check out our advice on making any business trip enjoyable. Safe travels!

Lively Little Ghost Town: Thurber, Texas

Lively Little Ghost Town: Thurber, Texas

Restaurant Reviews: Smokestack Restaurant, Thurber, Texas; New York Hill Restaurant, Thurber, Texas.

THURBER, TEXAS – There’s more here than meets the eye. If you count memories, anyway.

Today we serve up a two-fer. Two restaurant reviews in one blog post. Both restaurants lie in the same town. Now, will we strain belief when we say that the town is a ghost town?

Thurber, Texas: Where the Echoes Remain

According to most sources, Thurber, Texas, does carry the rep of being a for-real ghost town. Yes, there’s a little bit of human activity here, as the two restaurants attest. And then there’s the museum, known as the “W.K. Gordon Center for the Industrial History of Texas.” It occupies a structure that looks like a former schoolhouse.

But that’s pretty much it. The ghost-town label is deserved. All three of these landmark facilities in Thurber are visible to anyone passing through the locale lying just to the left and right of Interstate 20, at the 367 exit.

Population… 5?

The employees who staff these three facilities live in Mingus, which is about a mile north of Thurber. Or they live somewhere farther away and commute here. The population of Thurber, Texas, itself gets cited variously as 5, 8, or 10, depending on the source. Thurber amounts to hardly more than a strip of windy two-lane road that straddles the interstate.

While dining here at the Smokestack on one visit, I had the liver and onions. Not usual fare for me, nor usual fare in most eateries, for that matter. But this being Thurber, I opted for it, thinking it would have been a popular dish back in the town’s heyday.

A Savory Repast

The main dish came with brown gravy and was topped with sauteed onions. Mine came also with sides of sliced peaches, cottage cheese, and a yeast roll. My dining companion had the wood-smoked pork chop with white cheddar mac-and-cheese, broccoli-and-cauliflower, and a yeast roll as well.

Smokestack Restaurant Interior
Smokestack Restaurant Interior
Smokestack Restaurant Grilled Porkchop Meal
Smokestack Restaurant Grilled Porkchop Meal
Smoke Stack Restaurant liver and onions Meal
Smoke Stack Restaurant liver and onions Meal

The entrées were excellent. All the food here was especially good. Fresh, flavorful, and served with courtesy and alacrity, the dining here stands as some of the best we’ve encountered.

Thurber, Texas, Backstory

Here’s a squib printed in the Smokestack’s menu, under the heading “A Little History”:

“Welcome to beautiful downtown Thurber, Texas, pop. 5 and home to the Smokestack Restaurant since 1971. Thurber, once populated by more than 10,000, is known for its coal mining and brick production. This building was the company mercantile building and is one of the only remaining buildings original to Thurber. They sold everything from cribs to coffins and the three biggest sellers were beer, macaroni, and oysters. We hope you enjoy the food, atmosphere, and especially the history.”

Find them online at Facebook.com/ThurberSmokestack.

Then to New York Hill

On another visit, we took in the New York Hill Restaurant, which is situated on the south side of I-20 (the Smokestack lies on the north side), about halfway up New York Hill. Here, we had the special of the house, aka the New York Strip Steak, which came with baked potato and a roll. For the steak, we were given a nice cut—savory and satisfying.

Read about this one at ThurberNewYorkHill.com.

I liked New York Hill better for its atmosphere (although that is a close competition) and I liked the Smokestack better for its food.

New York Hill Restaurant Interior
New York Hill Restaurant Interior

Overlooked Museum with an Overlook

Thurber’s W.K. Gordon Museum, which, like the nearby restaurant, perches on New York Hill overlooking I-20, is an under appreciated attraction. Maybe that’s what you get when you put your museum in a ghost town. At any rate, we share these words from a webpage maintained by Tarleton State University (based in Stephenville, Texas), which manages the W.K. Gordon Museum: “The mission of the W.K. Gordon Museum and Research Center is to provide educational resources on the industrial history of Thurber and greater Texas, and to preserve, document and interpret that history and its impact on the people of Texas. “Thurber was one of the most important mine sites in Texas, a major manufacturer of paving bricks, and located near the oil field that helped make Texas a worldwide giant in petroleum production.”

Thurber, Texas: a True “Company” Town

And we close with this, also from Tarleton’s website: “The entire town of Thurber—every nail, shingle, and doorknob—was owned by the Texas and Pacific Coal Company. Residents lived in company houses, shopped at company stores, drank at company saloons, attended company schools, and worshipped in company-owned church buildings. “Many people traveled from around the world—including Italy, Poland, Ireland, and Russia—to live and work in Thurber. This immigrant influence helped create the unique environment of the community.”
Thurber, Texas
Thurber, Texas - Photo credit: By Wlovin - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

For more from TSU, see the TSU website.

Finally, a couple more sources, because Thurber has quite a history—one worth exploring:

Thurber, Texas Wikipedia page.

And Texas Coop Power carried a well written article on the ghost town.

10 Best Social Media Tools For Every Online Marketer

10 Best Social Media Tools For Every Online Marketers

Social media marketing is not an easy task. Social Media tools make the job easier. Reaching a large audience and building a significant following requires effort and consistency. It never happens overnight. There are many strategies one can employ, but no particular process that works for every business. To assist as you reach toward your business goals, employ some social media tools. They not only save you time, they save you money.

It goes without saying that one necessary element for your marketing efforts is reliable access to the internet. It is a hindrance to have a poor internet connection that stifles your ability to fulfill  your daily work load in the office or at home. One service to consider is Spectrum. Spectrum offers a simple plan with month-to-month billing, high speeds, and a personalized interface through My Spectrum. Once you’re set with dependable connection, you can build your social media marketing skills and use these tools best suited to move your business ahead.

Here we will discuss several of the best tools that you may employ to facilitate your social media marketing.

Buffer:

To begin, let’s look at Buffer. Buffer is a scheduling tool for different social media platforms that include LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. It fills the social media feed with relevant posts without wasting time to find content. It lines up content in the queue in a schedule. It also provides three functionalities: publish, analyze, and reply.

Pricing:
Pricing starts from $6 per month for each social channel.

Hootsuite:

Next, we look at Hootsuite. Hootsuite handles and brings multiple social media accounts under interface. It enables businesses to follow their customers and interact with their brands. You may create a free Hootsuite account. Plus there is a paid version for collaboration with team members.

Pricing:
The price starts from $19 per month. It is for 1 user and 10 social media channels.

Social Status:

Another tool, Social status, is a reporting tool that helps social media marketers view detailed analysis of social media accounts. It offers four levels that include; profiles, ads, competitors, and influencers. Social status generates the reports for these levels. Social Status incorporates Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. It provides access to analytics dashboards for your social media accounts.

Pricing:
Plans are priced from $29 per month and it includes 10 social media channels.

Meet Edgar:

Now, another tool to examine is Meet Edgar. Want to manage your social media content? Meet Edgar manages traffic and re-sharing content. This tool is the content manager. It works for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more. One benefit of Meet Edgar is that it boosts engagement by running the posts regularly. Additionally, it keeps the audience engaged with different types of content.

Pricing:
The monthly cost starts at$19 per month and entertains 3 social media accounts.

eClincher:

For social media marketers, publishing content is quite a task. eClincher is a tool for content publishing. It monitors reach, engagement, publishing, and listening. The eClincher process is easy to use and publishes the content repeatedly within time intervals.

Pricing:
The package price point begins from $59 per month and entertains 1 user with 10 social media channels.

Visme:

For consideration, Visme is a tool is designed to create visual content for various social media platforms. It provides the option to add graphics, videos, presentations, and all types of content to fit your brand strategy. It offers more than hundreds of templates, animated characters, and pictures along with the editor.

Pricing:
There are two options: $29 per month for designs and $59 per month for business plans.

Socialalert:

Next, look at Socialalert is the tool that keeps the main focus on the performance of all the accounts and channels. It helps to track the keywords and hashtags which help in the growth of the business. It engages the customers and targets the right audience by providing relatable content. It analyzes the posts, engagement, users, and top mentions that help the business.

Pricing:
Socailalert starts from $9.95 per month and entertains 2 accounts.

Tailwind:

Here again, this social media tool is geared towards Pinterest and Instagram users. It tells the best timing and occasions for the post to be shared to engage large customers. It offers schedule options for Instagram and Pinterest.

Pricing:
Tailwind pricing starts from $14.99 per month.

Post Planner:

It’s true, many people enjoy this popular tool. With the help of Post Planner, schedule content so it will be discovered. Post Planner supports the majority of the main social media networks.

Pricing:
Post Planner’s economical plans start from $4 per month for 3 profiles and 1 user.

Loomly:

Because of its integrations, Loomly is another popular tool for social media management. One of its advantages is that it integrates with Slack and Microsoft Teams. It is designed for branding and content development purposes.

Pricing:
Loomly’s pricing starts at $25 per month and entertains 10 profiles and 2 users.

Final words and Last Thoughts:

Summing it up, social media marketers should stay up to date with the latest things that are becoming trends and that people are interested in. Staying active and engaging makes the path a little easier. For managing the smoothest business and to get social media marketing in proper shape, these tools must be a part of social media marketing campaigns. It will increase the effectiveness and efficiency and give your name a boost on the platform and in monetary terms too.

For even more social media marketing, check out these related articles.

Comparison of Twitter Circles, Lists, and Communities

The Rise of Instagram Influencers: How They Became an Advertising Power

34 Best Social Media Marketing Tools in 2023 (socialchamp.io)

15 must-have social media marketing tools for 2022 – Biteable

12 Tips to Boost Reach and Gain Instagram Followers

12 Tips To Increase Reach And Get More Instagram Followers

Using Instagram for business can help you reach a wider audience, build an online community, and sell your products. But you need to find out how to get followers on Instagram. And you need to know the best ways to increase your Instagram reach and convert new followers to customers.

Previously, building a marketing strategy for Instagram posed few challenges. When you discovered the right time to post, all you had to do was stick to it. However, Instagram has changed since its early days. Now marketers find it harder to reach their target audience and promote their content. That’s why you should utilize the tools this platform has to offer business owners.

So, if you seek to boost your Instagram presence and organic reach, this post will be helpful.

12 Tips To Increase Instagram Reach

1. Avoid Fake Instagram Followers

At first, buying followers from a third party may seem reasonable to make your account look more legitimate. But this method proves counterproductive because of its shady nature. Why? Because when you purchase followers as a growth tactic, your followers will most likely consist of bots or fake and inactive accounts. What’s worse – your account can get flagged.

Instead, the smart choice means using an Instagram growth service focusing on growing organic Instagram followers. This way, you build real relationships with your followers, meaning more engaged followers in the long run.

2. Create An Instagram Content Strategy

A deliberate Instagram content strategy makes all the difference when it comes to your Instagram success. It keeps you on track and ensures you’ve outlined the goals you plan to achieve.

Creating a content strategy involves creating different content themes to engage your followers. If you want to increase awareness, try including Stories, contests, behind-the-scenes posts, and brand life features as part of your main content themes. If you need help creating content, work with a freelance copywriter.

Define your specific style and aesthetic. To help figure this out, ask yourself questions like:

  • What impression do I want to be seen and felt by my followers?
  • What brand’s style guide do I follow in terms of, for instance, writing captions?
  • What kind of hashtags should I use?
  • What types of photos, videos, and reels do I want to post?

You’ll need to establish a distinct and consistent brand voice through your content strategy.

3. Know Your Best Time To Post

Remember, time is of the essence. When it comes to making the most of your Instagram reach, gaining likes and comments immediately after posting matters greatly. If the initial round of engagement charts high, Instagram will have cause to move your post up in the feed. Examine Instagram Insights to see when your followers show greatest activity.

4. Try Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels To discover which posts enjoy most popularity with your audience, try experimenting with Reels. Your followers might enjoy discussing and sharing the entertaining Reels you share. In creating Reels, try these tips:

  • Make your Reels pop with the tools that Instagram includes, like editing tools, music, and visual effects. Every time the platform releases a new feature, you should use it to boost your exposure. So, maximize your reach by recording, editing, and adding effects from within the App.
  • In creating Reels, be sure that the first few seconds instantly pull in your viewers. To grab their attention, try using a sticker or a flashing piece of text somewhere on the image or video.
  • Use Q&As in your Reels to keep your followers coming back for more. End with a CTA to drive taps, and for them to leave questions for you, so you have an endless supply of content ideas.
  • Don’t hesitate to shout out or spotlight your community in your Reels. This is the fastest way to get people talking.

With Instagram Reels, find out what works for you and adjust your social content strategy accordingly.

5. Optimize Your Instagram Bio

Your bio stands out as the first thing people see when they visit your profile. So make an excellent first impression. You need to create a captivating Instagram bio to get others to follow you.

Therefore, you should communicate the compelling narrative of your brand in addition to the fundamentals, including your contact information and website URL. You won’t stand out by merely stating the type of business you have. Give them a reason to identify with and follow your brand.

6. Curate Visually-Appealing Content

Curate Visually-Appealing Content Curation includes identifying excellent content. And since Instagram users just love good visual content, curate smart and appealing visual content. Use photos, videos, carousel posts, GIFs, infographics, illustrations, memes, or animations. Also, you provide readers a broader perspective by citing sources, including links, and adding insight.

In curating content, try these tactics.

  • Create a listicle that focuses on conveying an idea visually in just two to three lines to generate shares and comments. This listicle incorporates images (preferably 5-10) and GIFs.
  • Create curated how-to posts and tutorials that entertain and inform.
  • Feature up-and-coming design professionals or artists by inviting them to share their work on your Instagram profile. Just make sure you’re aware of copyright rules.

7. Utilize Instagram Analytics

Instagram analytics help you track progress, identify trends, and understand your target audience better. Use Instagram analytics to learn which hashtags get greatest usage, which photos receive the most interaction, and which times prove most popular for posting.

Wisely, employing information from useful metrics can help you focus on the most valuable Instagram growth hacks. And can set you up for success.

8. Use Branded Hashtags

Use Branded Hashtags Using hashtags works as a tried and true method for reaching out to more people and gaining more Instagram followers. You should explore which hashtags enjoy popularity in your niche and which have relevance to your industry, brand, and content. Then, use a combination of these hashtags for your Instagram posts to connect with users who follow those hashtags.

9. Cross-post Across Facebook and Twitter

Use cross-posting as a time-saving tactic to allow you to share content with a broader audience without putting in the extra effort. This step helps for new brands that haven’t produced much content or brands with a limited marketing budget. By multi-purposing your content, you’re increasing the chances people will see and engage with it.

10. Start Meaningful Conversations With the Audience

Your Instagram captions allow you to engage your current audience and even encourage them to converse with you. So, why not take advantage of this opportunity?

You can use your Instagram captions to tag people, ask questions, and so on. The more you encourage your audience to express an opinion, the greater likelihood they will invite their friends to join in on the conversation.

Beyond sparking conversations yourself, get mileage by joining conversations started by others. Just find a popular conversation within your niche. When you join in and comment, people reading might check your profile and decide to follow you.

11. Check Out Competitors’ Efforts

To maximize organic reach and enhance brand health, employ competitive analysis. When you check out your competitors, you can stay updated with the trends in your industry.

Keeping an eye on your competitors helps you develop new ideas and find inspiration for your content strategy to grow more Instagram followers. More importantly, you’ll find out how you can gain an advantage over them.

12. Ask Questions In Your Posts

Ask Questions In Your Posts When you ask questions, your followers have a better chance of getting engagement. You can ask these questions through the caption of your post, through an Instagram Story with an emoji slider. Or through an Instagram story with a poll Or through asking your followers these questions directly through an Instagram Live video.

Some great examples of questions to ask are: 

  • Do you like…?
  • Would you buy…?
  • Which do you prefer…?
  • Have you seen our latest…?
  • This or that?
  • What year would you travel back to in time, and why?
  • What’s one thing you can’t live without?
  • What are you most thankful for today?
  • What’s the one thing you do for everyone?
  • Who inspires you every day?
  • What was your dream job as a kid?
  • Are you a cat or a dog person?
  • What’s your superpower?
  • What’s the best compliment you ever gave?

Be aware that people generally enjoy naming their favorites in any category. And they love to share about themselves. As you get to know your audience better, you will find ways to ask questions that tap into their interests.

Increase Your Reach

The ideal strategy for increasing your reach and growing Instagram followers involves taking the time to understand your audience, create content that encourages engagement, and strategically use the platform’s features. Be consistent in working to meet your audience’s expectations.

You can’t build an organic Instagram following overnight, but if you have the right mindset, you can.

For more advice on using Instagram for business marketing, see these Jemully Media articles.

Author: Sheila Kickstarter - sheila@kicksta.co

How to Build Android Apps with a Bootcamp

How to Develop Apps on Android Through an Android Bootcamp

If you have wanted to develop your ideas and turn them into apps, you may have already considered attending an android bootcamp. An android bootcamp can help you develop your ideas. More, it can help you turn your ideas into a fully functional user-friendly app. Bootcamps vary with regards to what they offer, as well as to when and why. Establishing what matters most to you, as well as to your app, will help you select the right bootcamp and aid your app development.

Finding the Best Bootcamp

You might find that multiple bootcamps exist. Some of these exist online, while others take place in the real world. When it comes to finding the best fit for you and your app, do your research. Look at what past participants have said about the bootcamp. Does their feedback indicate that their knowledge improved from being part of an android bootcamp?

Also think about what type of app you want to create and develop. Then decide if the bootcamp can (or will) focus on this. Weigh the various offerings, keeping your specific needs in mind, to help make that decision a little easier.

Understand Best Practices

You want your app to be awesome. And you want to make sure it is competitive. To ensure this happens, you need to understand and follow best practices at all times. Hands-on bootcamps, and even virtual bootcamps, will help you understand what best practices you should be following and applying to your app. They will demonstrate how best practices can help you build user trust within your app, and help you build a strong and positive reputation.

Top Tip: Look at what other bootcamps developers and creators may have used (and when). If you have basic coding skills, you may find the bootcamp you are looking at is too elementary for your needs. Try reaching out to other developers and see what they learned from bootcamp attendance.

Having an Action Plan for Your Apps

Once you have selected the best bootcamp for your app, start working on an action plan. What do you want to achieve for your app? And what area of development would you like to focus on? For instance, are you going to focus on functionality, or on ease of use and access? When you have an action plan for the development of your app, you stay firmly in command of what you want to achieve. When you are developing apps, it can be easy, without a plan, to lose sight of your goal.

Creating a Development Timescale

A bootcamp will help you focus your efforts. Also, it will help you create a workable and realistic development timescale. Developers must carefully gauge how much time they need to complete a project. They must do this before committing to the job. But just as important, they must budget and track their time, to avoid so-called “scope creep.” To stay within time constraints, you need to make use of a development timescale. This can then be applied to any coding project you undertake. Establish what you want to do, and by when, with your app. This timescale will help you turn your vision into reality.

Oh, and when you have become the proud parent of a new app, nurture it with the promotion it deserves. Get a head start on that with this “Simple Guide to Business Promotion.”

Book Review “Start Your Own Business” by Rieva Lesonsky

Book Review "Start Your Own Business" by Rieva Lesonsky


When you decide to start your own business you set yourself to one of life’s great challenges. Launching a business can be both exciting and daunting. It requires dedication, hard work, and a strong understanding of what it takes to be successful. The book Start Your Own Business by Rieva Lesonsky offers valuable insights and practical advice on how to start and grow a successful business. 

Rieva Lesonsky is president and CEO of GrowBiz Media, a custom content and media company. GrowBiz focuses on small business and entrepreneurship. The company also publishes the blog SmallBizDaily.com. Prior to starting GrowBiz Media, Lesonsky served as editorial director of Entrepreneur magazine. 

Steps to Start Your Own Business In what follows, we will outline some of the key points covered in the book.

  1. Identifying a profitable business idea: One of the first things Lesonsky emphasizes in the book is the importance of identifying a profitable business idea. The author stresses the importance of researching the market. She stresses the need to understand the competition. And she urges that you consider your skills and interests when choosing a business. Lesonsky also covers the importance of testing your business idea before investing significant time and money into it.
  2. Developing a business plan: A comprehensive business plan is essential for success. Lesonsky provides step-by-step guidance on how to develop a business plan. These include advice on how to identify your target market, set goals and objectives, and create a financial plan. She also advocates for regularly reviewing and updating your business plan to ensure that you stay on track.
  3. Marketing and sales: Lesonsky covers the various marketing and sales strategies that can be used to promote your business. She discusses the importance of building a brand and creating a strong online presence. We appreciated the fact that she recognizes the tools that social media and email marketing afford for reaching your target market. She also covers traditional marketing methods, such as print and broadcast advertising. And she provides practical advice on how to develop a successful sales strategy.
  4. Financing: Starting a business often requires significant investment. Lesonsky covers the various financing options available to entrepreneurs. She discusses the pros and cons of traditional bank loans, venture capital, and crowdfunding. Moreover, she provides advice on how to secure funding for your business.
  5. Building a team: Lesonsky highlights the importance of having a strong team in place to support your business. She covers the key steps to finding and hiring the right employees. You’ll find discussion of the importance of providing training and support to help those employees succeed. And the author knows and extols the virtues of managing your employees effectively, including setting clear expectations, providing feedback, and recognizing and rewarding success.

What Others Have Said About Start Your Own Business

Checking out the sentiment on GoodReads, one finds this to be a popular book with 166 readers who gave the book a rating of 3.73 out of 5 stars.

“A must-read book on entrepreneurship for knowledge workers and aspiring entrepreneurs.”  – Lori G., GoodReads

“A good introduction to what it takes. However, this book is rather too thick in my opinion, and is perhaps too broad to be truly useful. This book covers all types of businesses from store front services to manufacturing to bars to software concerns and more.”  – Josh R., GoodReads

Incidentally, another book we have reviewed and that we found valuable for entrepreneurs (albeit in an indirect fashion) is The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. 

the bottom line

Start Your Own Business by Rieva Lesonsky is a helpful resource for anyone looking to start and grow a successful business. The book covers the key points that entrepreneurs need to consider. These range from identifying a profitable business idea to securing financing and building a strong team. Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur or an experienced business owner, this book provides valuable insights and practical advice to help you succeed.