Olivia Dello Buono says, “We’re huge fans of using GIFs in email. And it seems you guys are, too: Last year’s GIF guide was one of our most popular posts of 2015. (Seriously – we received dozens of comments and tweets about how much you guys loved ‘em!) We didn’t want to keep you hanging this year. Our design team whipped up these exclusive creations (and threw in some old favorites) for you to use in your next holiday campaign. They’re even optimized for email and designed to play well with most email clients”. The 2016 Holiday GIF Guide AWeber  [...]

Greg Sterling says, “According to data from Adobe, Cyber Monday became the largest day in US e-commerce history. Consumers spent roughly $3.4 billion online, which just beat Black Friday’s $3.34 billion. Cyber Monday generated somewhat less mobile commerce revenue at $1.19 billion vs. $1.2 billion on Black Friday. Nonetheless, smartphones and tablets drive more traffic than PCs yesterday. Adobe said that 44 percent of retail site traffic came from smartphones, while 9 percent was from tablets. More conversions happened on PCs however, driving 65 percent of online retail sales. Adobe reported... [...]

John Donnelly III says, “It’s almost hard to remember at this point, but it wasn’t long ago that Black Friday took place on a single, in-store day. Today, driven by online shopping’s steady growth and inherent flexibility, Black Friday can feel like an entire season; brands are launching sale days in advance and wrapping Cyber Monday into the same campaigns. However, although many brands have pivoted from the Black Friday strategies of the past, the day is still a mainstay and requires consideration for every retail marketer. How do consumers really feel about Black Friday, and how... [...]

Greg Sterling says, “In the beginning, there was no light, and marketers were forced to rely on “gut feeling” when it came to assessing the success of marketing initiatives. We simply lacked the tools and information needed to scientifically conceive of and measure the effectiveness of our efforts. Even as more effective data analytics tools started to become available, many marketers preferred to trust intuition over the data. Intuition became prized in the C-suite, and taking action based on gut feeling was valued over the hard work of crunching data and formulating rational strategies. As... [...]

SBT team says, “Tis the season for Starbucks red cups, Coca Cola polar bears, the majestic Clydesdales, and more. The holidays are a marketer’s dream come true. If you play your cards right, Q4 can be incredibly profitable for you and your business. Holiday Marketing Tips for Small Businesses 1. Don’t Make Assumptions Don’t just assume that your customers delight upon hearing Christmas greetings. Be sensitive to the beliefs of others. Don’t force your celebration down their throats. At the same time, know your demographic. For example, if you work for a Catholic based charity; religious... [...]

April Berthene says, “Mobile sales totaled $3.46 billion between Thanksgiving and Sunday, a 28% increase year over year, Adobe says. Mobile shopping surged throughout the Thanksgiving weekend according to data from Adobe Inc. and payment processor PayPal Holdings Inc. Mobile had its biggest day ever on Black Friday, when mobile sales reached $1.2 billion the day after Thanksgiving, up 33% year over year, according to the Adobe Digital Insights unit of marketing and analytics software provider Adobe. Between Thanksgiving and Sunday, Nov. 24-27, mobile devices accounted for 56% of visits to... [...]

Vahe Habeshian says, “For email marketers and small business owners, festive holiday feelings often give way to the stress of building email marketing campaigns. A holiday-themed infographic by email marketing services provider Campaigner offers some tips and advice to help your marketing thrive during the holidays. Among the statistics and best-practices to capitalize on and boost holiday sales: —Celebrate the season of giving and treat your new subscriber to a present: 85% of consumers say an email with a coupon code would influence them to buy. —Embrace the holiday savings and offer... [...]

Don Davis says, “A late-day surge brought retailers’ online sales for the day to $3.34 billion, says Adobe, which had predicted a $3.05 billion e-retail day. Mobile sales blew past $1 billion for the first time in a single day, reaching $1.2 billion, more than a third of web sales. Online retailers have plenty to be thankful for today after deal-seeking shoppers pushed Black Friday web sales to unexpected heights. Web sales totaled $3.34 billion for the day, up 21.6% from the day after Thanksgiving last year, according to the Adobe Digital Insights unit of marketing and analytics software... [...]

Ceren Cubukcu says, “You can always develop your career if you really want and believe it or not holidays are perfect for it. During the holiday season, it is easier to get in touch with people because you have a perfectly valid reason for it. Therefore, it is up to you to use this excuse and advance your career. Below you can find tips for making the most of this holiday season. Related: Simple Tips to Help You Climb the Corporate Ladder 1. Attend events Even if you don’t like parties or gatherings, stop by for half an hour so that you can be seen. Especially, attend to your employer’s... [...]

Corey says, “As a marketer and business owner, it can often be difficult to come up with great emails with eye-catching images and actionable copy. That’s why I like to draw inspiration and ideas from other successful marketers and businesses. I’m going to share eight awesome Black Friday email campaigns that you can steal and start implementing into your business. In each example, I’m going to break down what it is, why it’s so effective, and how you can implement their ideas into your holiday campaigns. 1. The Simple Sale Announcement Email Subject: Black Friday – 40% off... [...]