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Content strategy plays an important role in the success of any business, and especially for managed service provider (MSP) companies that must stay up to date on the latest technologies to provide the best service. Having a content strategy in place not only helps to generate leads, but it also helps to build relationships and trust with potential customers. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to grow your MSP company through content strategy and how to use content strategy to convert leads. Contents: Content strategy hacks 8 KPIs needed by a MSP Conversion Rate Time spent on page Social Shares Referral Traffic 1. Content strategy hacks that can help to grow an MSP company: • Develop buyer personas to better understand the target audience. • Focus on topics that are relevant to the target audience. • Utilize SEO and other digital marketing tactics to drive traffic. • Optimize content for all devices. • Invest in content promotion to reach more people. • Leverage social media to increase visibility. • Test different types of content to see what works best. 8 KPIs needed by a Managed Service provider who is serious about content strategy 1. Organic Traffic: This KPI measures the number of visitors to a website from unpaid search engine results. In order to measure organic traffic, you can use Google Analytics to track the number of visits to your website from organic search results. You can also track the number of clicks on the organic search results that lead to your website. Additionally, you can track the keywords used to find your website through organic search, as well as the number of pages viewed from organic search results. Here are a few destinations on Google Analytics to track organic traffic: a. Traffic from Social Media: Monitoring traffic from social media is important if you are growing organic traffic. Now, there is more than one way to monitor this. b. Google Analytics On Google Analytics, you can easily view this chart on the Acquisition tab, Traffic sources. If you want further breakdown of the Organic social traffic, unlike in Universal GA, your might have to manually configure it in 'filters' in GA4. the next important report you need to monitor if you are gorwing your site traffic manually is the pages report. IT's an extremely fun report to keep tab on, because if you have included a conversion goal, you can find out which pages result in a conversion and promote those pages more often. If the table give you higher CTR but no conversions, you might have to re-write the blog and refresh it with more keywords and lead magnets. c. Wordpress or Wix Basically most of the hosting site provides you with basic data as well. d. Similar Web Free tool, to analyse your traffic sources and your competitor's pretty accurately. It may not be as descriptive and elaborative as Google Analytics. 2. Lead Generation: This KPI measures the number of leads generated through content efforts. Where can you measure for leads on your website Events You need to manually configure what event is important for your website. This really depends on your objective. If you are looking for awareness and brand building, you should be looking at a 'Page View' event. But if your objective is conversion, it could be more specific such as 'goal value' or abandon cart' For Google Ad campaigns, you can set up conversion tracking for website, app, calls or any imported source. You can find out how many conversions were recorded for each goal. To capture data, conversion tracking should be set up. 3. Conversion Rate: This KPI measures the percentage of visitors who become customers. Your conversion tracking is based on objectives. If you are running an ecommerce site for laptops, your CVR would be how many added to cart over how many clicked on the product page. Again, how many checked out over how many added to cart. In the below screenshot of a Google Ads campaign, not how the CVR (blue line) stays lower than the conversions (red line). This is extracted from a 2 week window on a Performance max campaign with a 97% optimization score. For a content site, your conversion can be segmented to each service landing page with at CTA of schedule a call or learn more. That way, you can find out which pages are more appealing to a user group. And if the CVR on those pages are further lower than expected, the message may not be clear, for which you could easily re-write the content and use a descriptive video explaining the concept. 4. Time on Page: This KPI measures how long visitors spend on a page, indicating the level of engagement with the content. 5. Social Shares: This KPI measures the number of times a piece of content is shared on social media. Important if you are running referral campaigns. 6. Referral Traffic: This KPI measures the number of visitors to a website that were referred from another website. Types of referral traffic 1. Referral Source Tracking Tools: This tool can track referral traffic with a website link. It can show the sources of your website visitors, such as organic search, direct visits, email campaigns, and social media. It can also provide detailed information on each source, including the number of visits, time spent on the website, and which pages were visited. 10 referral source tracking tools: 1. ReferralCandy: www.referralcandy.com 2. ReferralSaasquatch: www.referralsaasquatch.com 3. Ambassador: www.getambassador.com 4. Referral Hero: https://referralhero.com 5. Referral Rock: https://referralrock.com 6. Friendbuy: www.friendbuy.com 7. Extole: www.extole.com 8. Growave: www.growave.io 9. Impact: https://impact.com 10. Heyo: www.heyo.com 2. Link Tracking Tool: This tool can track how many times a specific link is clicked. It can also provide data on the source of the link, such as organic search, direct visits, email campaigns, and social media. Additionally, it can track where the visitors went after clicking the link, such as which pages were visited, how long the visitor stayed on the page, and which links were clicked. 5 Link tracking tools 1. Bitly: Bitly is a popular link tracking tool that helps brands track the performance of their links. It provides click-through rate, unique clickers, and other analytics to help brands measure the success of their campaigns. 2. Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a free web analytics tool that helps track the performance of links on your website. It provides detailed information such as pageviews, sessions, and conversions to help you understand how users are interacting with your website. 3. LinkTrackr: LinkTrackr is a link tracking solution that allows you to track the performance of your links across multiple channels. It provides detailed reports and analytics to help you understand the effectiveness of your campaigns. 4. ClickMeter: ClickMeter is a link tracking tool that helps you measure the performance of your links and campaigns. It provides real-time analytics, heatmaps, and A/B testing to help you optimize your campaigns for maximum ROI. 5. Linkly: Linkly is a link tracking tool that helps you measure the performance of your links across multiple platforms. It provides detailed insights and analytics to help you optimize your campaigns and maximize your ROI. 3. Referral Analytics Tool: This tool can track the performance of referral campaigns, such as the number of visits, conversions, and revenue generated. It can also provide detailed information on each source of referral traffic, including organic search, direct visits, email campaigns, and social media. Additionally, it can provide data on the pages that were visited and how long visitors stayed on them. 8 Referral Analytics tools 1. Google Analytics: https://analytics.google.com 2. ReferralCandy: www.referralcandy.com 3. Qualaroo: www.qualaroo.com 4. Amplitude: https://amplitude.com 5. Mixpanel: https://mixpanel.com 6. Referral Saasquatch: www.referralsaasquatch.com 7. Heap: https://heap.io 8. KISSmetrics: www.kissmetrics.com 7. Return Visitors: This KPI measures the number of visitors who return to a website after visiting it once. Important metric to identify the success of retargeting campaigns. 8. Cost Per Lead: Cost per lead measures the cost of acquiring new leads through content marketing efforts. Hey! If you enjoy my content and would like to say a quick thank you, why not buy me a coffee! Thanks for your support!

When you are on the steering desk of a business, every decision you make will have an impact on its profitability and growth trajectory. As an owner, your core interests lies in growing your business and making sure you have all the right information you need to take the right decisions. Contents Features of a POS system Simplified Sales Process In touch with current cashflows, profitability and status - in real time In depth understanding on inventory movement Device integration and e-bills Building customer bases and promotion planning Accessibility, permissions and data security Streamlined Reporting and Analytics Integration and Scalability Employee Management 7 Best POS solutions for Small and Medium Scale Businesses Square POS Shopify Lightspeed Vend Toast Revel Shopkeep 5 Common Pricing traps with case studies in POS softwares One method of sure success of getting the right information is having your boots on the ground. If you are running a coffee shop, sending time in the shop, getting to know the customers, what are they frequently buying, getting kitchen staff to prepare high quality orders, making sure all the supplies arrive on time and the quality of ingredients are on par are a few of those steps that would be a part of your daily routine. But most often the smaller details would skip even a hard-working business owner with all the daily madness in keeping the shop afloat. So how can you save yourself, your business interests, and the staff you have employees while being able to do everything you like to do? Financial Management is one of the most sought-after services and support levels required by small to medium sized entrepreneurs. And if you think, 'ah this is me!' You are not alone. Fortunately for you, your business is born to a world that is abundant with technology that can process even the most intricate data with just a click. Let's break it down. When it comes to a business, a Point of Sale System a financially eloquent software with a cloud based back office web portal is built to provide you with a high level of reporting from profitability to performance, costing to valuations even status and immediate feedback to suppliers, which makes running a business on any device - a reality. So why is a POS software with an in-depth back office software important and how can a business owner use it to thrive and grow your business? Let's take an account of a few important features that will blow your mind. Features of an POS system 1. Simplified Sales Process: A POS software automates and simplifies the sales process, replacing traditional cash registers and manual record-keeping. It allows businesses to quickly process transactions, calculate accurate totals, and generate detailed receipts for customers. This not only saves time but also reduces human errors, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction. 2. In touch with current cashflows, profitability and status - in real time A cloud based back office-based point of Sale software can give your business wings. Not to mention the real time data updating that gives you crystal clear visibility of your short term and long term goals. Such as from where your inventory, employees and how much cash you have in your drawer to vital data like profitability, sales summery, and advanced sales reports. As long as all the sales and purchases take place through the POS, your data accuracy will be more accurate. 3. In depth understanding on inventory movement Smooth flowing inventory is the life blood of any business. Having visibility of low stock inventory items and time taken to order will give you that short term leverage on optimizing supply chain. Being able to order the right quantities of stock, system prompted PO and GRN tracking helps you save time and unnecessary costs. With a cloud-based Point of sale software you can extract both short term and long term information and take the right decisions. 4. Device integration and e-bills The advent of technology has made acquisition and ownership of financial products to small and medium businesses more economical and user friendly. Gone are the days where bulky cash registers comes with a POS device and bills had to be printed. Now business owners can simply install the point of sale software to a tablet and connect multiple devices like barcode scanner, printer via Bluetooth and start operations and send customers e-bills instead of printed bills. 5. Building customer bases and promotion planning Having visibility of customers purchase patterns is always exciting. The right insights when teamed up with sales promotions and pricing plans, will have a supernova effect on your business. And your POS back office has the ability to equip you with just that kind of information. The right back office platform can help you plan, schedule and organize promotions and allocate just the right customer to enjoy these benefits. A point system and discounts is a common feature in most successful back office. 6.Accessibility, permissions and data security Working with multiple shops, having multiple user roles handling cash and sensitive information such as customer data and contact information or payment information means you need to think twice (or more) about which information can be seen by who. A well-developed back office platform will allow you to enable multiple levels of accessibility and permissions. Password protection can be enabled for entering and closing shift and viewing sensitive information such as cash balances across shops/ terminals and user groups. Furthermore, the more devices you have connected – such as handheld scanners or tablets, mobile devices with access to the POS – the more ways there are for malware, viruses, and other issues to affect the point of sale and back office system. Ensure devices are serviced by the manufacturer or a trusted service provider. Regularly clean off old user IDs or passwords of employees who are no longer with you, and monitor them for any changes that weren’t authorized. 7. Streamlined Reporting and Analytics: A comprehensive POS software provides powerful reporting and analytics features. It allows you to generate sales reports, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and analyze trends. These insights help you make data-driven decisions, identify top-selling products, measure employee performance, and understand customer preferences. Access to accurate data empowers businesses to refine strategies, improve operations, and maximize profitability. 8. Integration and Scalability: POS software can integrate with other business tools such as accounting software, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and e-commerce platforms. This integration streamlines data flow, eliminates duplicate entries, and enhances overall productivity. Additionally, a good POS software is scalable, accommodating your business's growth and adapting to changing needs. 9. Employee Management: Efficient employee management is crucial for smooth operations. POS software simplifies employee scheduling, tracks hours worked, and manages payroll. It provides role-based access, enabling you to restrict access to sensitive information and monitor employee performance. By automating these processes, you can save time, reduce administrative tasks, and focus on other aspects of your business. 7 Best POS Solutions for small and medium businesses 1. Square Point of Sale Square is a widely used and versatile POS system that offers a range of features for small businesses. It includes tools for processing payments, managing inventory, and generating reports. Square POS is user-friendly and compatible with various hardware options. Learn more at: https://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale 2. Shopify POS Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that also provides a comprehensive POS solution. It seamlessly integrates with Shopify's online store, allowing businesses to manage both their physical and online sales from one central dashboard. Shopify POS offers features like inventory tracking, customer management, and analytics. Explore more at: https://www.shopify.com/pos 3. Lightspeed Retail Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based POS system designed for retailers. It offers advanced inventory management, employee management, and reporting capabilities. Lightspeed Retail is suitable for businesses of all sizes and includes features like integrated payments and customer loyalty programs. Visit their website for more information: https://www.lightspeedhq.com/pos/ 4. Vend Vend is a popular POS software for retail businesses. It provides tools for inventory management, sales tracking, and customer engagement. Vend offers a user-friendly interface and integrates with various hardware and payment providers. Discover more about Vend at: https://www.vendhq.com/ 5. Toast POS Toast POS is a feature-rich system designed specifically for the foodservice industry, including restaurants, cafes, and bars. It offers robust functionalities such as menu management, tableside ordering, kitchen display systems, and reporting. Toast POS is known for its intuitive interface and strong customer support. Learn more here: https://pos.toasttab.com/ 6. Revel Systems Revel Systems is a comprehensive POS software that caters to a range of industries, including retail, restaurants, and hospitality. It provides features like inventory management, employee scheduling, table side ordering, and loyalty programs. Revel Systems is scalable and can support businesses of varying sizes. Explore their offerings at: https://revelsystems.com/ 7. ShopKeep ShopKeep is a cloud-based POS system designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers easy-to-use features for managing sales, inventory, and customer relationships. ShopKeep also provides integrated payment processing and robust reporting capabilities. Find out more at: https://www.shopkeep.com/ 5 Tips for choosing the best POS for your buiness When choosing the best POS (Point of Sale) software for your business, it's important to consider various factors that align with your specific needs and requirements. Here are five tips to help you make an informed decision: Define Your Business Needs: Before selecting a POS software, clearly outline your business requirements. Consider aspects such as the size of your business, industry-specific features, inventory management, integration capabilities, reporting and analytics, and any unique needs or workflows. This will help you identify software that caters to your specific needs. Scalability and Flexibility: Choose a POS software that can scale with your business as it grows. Ensure the software supports additional registers, multiple store locations, and handles increased transaction volumes without performance issues. Flexibility is also crucial, as your business needs may evolve, and you might require customization or integration with other systems. User-Friendliness and Training: The usability of the POS software is vital, as it affects staff productivity and efficiency. Look for an intuitive and user-friendly interface that minimizes training time for your employees. A software provider that offers training resources, tutorials, and excellent customer support can also be beneficial for a smooth transition and ongoing assistance. Integration and Compatibility: Consider the software's compatibility with your existing hardware, such as barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers, and credit card terminals. Ensure the POS software integrates with other business systems you rely on, such as accounting software, CRM systems, or e-commerce platforms. Seamless integration can streamline operations and data management. Security and Data Protection: POS software deals with sensitive customer and financial data, so prioritizing security is crucial. Look for software that offers robust security measures, such as data encryption, secure payment processing, and compliance with industry standards like PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). Regular software updates and vendor support for security patches are also essential to protect against emerging threats. Remember to research different POS software providers, compare their features and pricing, read customer reviews and testimonials, and consider seeking recommendations from other business owners in your industry. Taking the time to evaluate your options will help you choose the best POS software solution for your business's specific needs. Common Pricing traps with case studies in POS softwares When it comes to point-of-sale (POS) subscriptions, there are a few common pricing traps that businesses should be aware of. These traps can sometimes lead to unexpected costs or unfavorable terms. Here are some examples and case studies: 1. Hidden Fees: Some POS providers may advertise low monthly subscription fees but hide additional charges that can add up over time. For example, they might charge extra for features like inventory management or customer support. Businesses should carefully review the terms and conditions to uncover any potential hidden fees. Case Study: A restaurant subscribes to a POS system with a low monthly fee but later discovers that there are additional charges for adding more menu items and integrating with third-party services. These unexpected fees significantly increase the overall cost of the POS system. 2. Tiered Pricing POS providers often offer tiered pricing plans, where different features or capabilities are unlocked at higher subscription levels. While this can be advantageous for businesses with specific needs, it can lead to paying for features that are unnecessary. Case Study: A retail store signs up for a POS subscription and chooses a higher-priced plan to access advanced inventory management features. However, they later realize that they rarely use these features, and the extra cost is not justified. 3. Long-Term Contracts Some POS providers offer discounted rates or incentives for signing long-term contracts. While this may initially seem beneficial, it can become a trap if the business's needs change or if the POS system doesn't meet expectations. Case Study: A small business commits to a three-year contract with a POS provider to receive a discounted monthly rate. However, they experience issues with the system's functionality and customer support, making it difficult to switch to a more suitable solution without incurring penalties. 4. Expensive Integrations: POS systems often integrate with other tools such as accounting software or e-commerce platforms. However, some providers charge exorbitant fees for these integrations, which can significantly increase the overall cost of using the POS system. Case Study: An online retailer subscribes to a POS system that claims to integrate seamlessly with their existing e-commerce platform. However, they later discover that there is an additional integration fee, which is significantly higher than what they anticipated, putting a strain on their budget. 5. Price Increases: POS providers may start with attractive introductory pricing to lure businesses, but then raise prices significantly once they are locked into the system. This can result in unexpected cost increases and budgetary challenges. Case Study: A salon signs up for a POS subscription with an introductory rate, only to find out that the provider increases the price by 50% after the first year. This unexpected price hike puts strain on the salon's finances and makes it difficult to explore alternative options. To avoid falling into these pricing traps, it's crucial for businesses to thoroughly research and compare different POS providers, carefully read the contract terms, and ask detailed questions about potential hidden fees or future pricing changes before committing to a subscription. Conclusion: Investing in a reliable POS software is a strategic decision that can yield numerous benefits for your business. From simplifying the sales process to streamlining inventory management, generating insightful reports, enhancing customer experience, and facilitating employee management, a robust POS software empowers you to optimize operations and drive growth. As technology continues to evolve, embracing the capabilities of a POS software becomes increasingly vital for businesses of all sizes to stay competitive and meet the ever-changing needs of their customers. Interested to partner? Write to me on fernando.romanthi@gmail.com

The intersection of financial technology (FinTech) and digital media has created a dynamic landscape that continues to evolve at a rapid pace. As we delve into 2023, it becomes evident that the FinTech industry is leveraging digital media in innovative ways to enhance user experiences, streamline processes, and drive growth. In this blog post, we will explore some of the key digital media trends shaping the FinTech industry and how they are revolutionizing the way we manage our finances. Contents: 1. Personalized user experience 8 Data Analytics and Machine learning tools used by Fin Tech 2. Video content and virtual assistants 7 Natural Language processing and Machine Learning tools used by Fin-Tech 3. Social Media and Influencer Marketing 5 must use social media tools by Fin techs 4. Enhanced Security and Biometrics 5. Block chain and crypto currency 6. Content Marketing 1. Personalized User Experiences: One of the prominent trends in the FinTech industry is the focus on delivering personalized user experiences through digital media. Financial institutions and FinTech startups are utilizing data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to understand customer preferences, behavior, and financial goals. By harnessing these insights, they can tailor their digital media platforms to offer customized recommendations, financial advice, and targeted marketing campaigns. These personalized experiences not only enhance user engagement but also foster long-term customer loyalty. FinTech companies rely on a variety of tools for data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to enhance their services and gain valuable insights. 8 Data Analytics and Machine learning tools used by Fin Tech 1. Python: Python is a popular programming language for data analysis, machine learning, and AI. It offers a wide range of libraries and frameworks such as Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, which are extensively used by FinTech companies. Website: https://www.python.org/ 2. Apache Hadoop: Hadoop is a distributed processing framework that allows FinTech companies to store and process large datasets in a scalable manner. It is commonly used for data preprocessing and analysis. Website: https://hadoop.apache.org/ 3. Apache Spark: Spark is a fast and general-purpose cluster-computing framework that enables FinTech companies to perform large-scale data processing and analytics. It provides high-performance data processing capabilities, including machine learning and graph processing. Website: https://spark.apache.org/ 4. Tableau: Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool used by FinTech companies to create interactive and insightful dashboards. It helps in exploring and communicating data effectively. Website: https://www.tableau.com/ 5. TensorFlow: TensorFlow is an open-source machine learning framework developed by Google. It allows FinTech companies to build and deploy machine learning models efficiently, especially for tasks such as fraud detection, risk assessment, and customer segmentation. Website: https://www.tensorflow.org/ 6. Keras: Keras is a high-level neural networks library written in Python. It is often used as a user-friendly interface for building and training deep learning models. Keras can be integrated with TensorFlow. Website: https://keras.io/ 7. RapidMiner: RapidMiner is a data science platform that provides a visual workflow environment for FinTech companies to perform end-to-end data analytics tasks. It supports various machine learning algorithms and allows easy integration with other tools. Website: https://rapidminer.com/ 8. Amazon Web Services (AWS): AWS offers a suite of cloud-based services that FinTech companies leverage for their data analytics and AI needs. Services such as Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, and Amazon SageMaker provide scalable storage, data warehousing, and machine learning capabilities. Website: https://aws.amazon.com/ 2. Video Content and Virtual Assistants: Video content has become an increasingly popular medium for communication and education within the FinTech industry. Many financial institutions and FinTech companies are leveraging video to explain complex financial concepts, showcase new products, and provide tutorials on using their platforms. Additionally, virtual assistants powered by natural language processing and machine learning are becoming more prevalent, enabling users to interact with financial services using voice commands and receive real-time assistance. These technologies are revolutionizing customer support, making it more accessible and efficient. FinTech companies leverage various tools and technologies for natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) applications. 7 Natural Language processing and Machine Learning tools used by Fin-Tech Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK): NLTK is a popular Python library for NLP. It provides various modules and algorithms for tasks like tokenization, stemming, tagging, parsing, and semantic reasoning. You can learn more about NLTK here. (Website: https://www.nltk.org) Stanford NLP: Stanford NLP is a suite of NLP tools developed by the Stanford NLP Group. It offers pre-trained models and APIs for tasks such as named entity recognition, part-of-speech tagging, sentiment analysis, and more. You can explore Stanford NLP here. (Website: https://nlp.stanford.edu) spaCy: spaCy is an open-source library for NLP written in Python. It provides efficient and production-ready tools for various NLP tasks, including tokenization, named entity recognition, part-of-speech tagging, dependency parsing, and more. Find more about spaCy here (Website https://spacy.io) scikit-learn: scikit-learn is a widely used ML library in Python. It offers a range of ML algorithms and tools for tasks like classification, regression, clustering, and dimensionality reduction. It also provides utilities for feature extraction and preprocessing. You can explore scikit-learn here. (website: https://scikit-learn.org/stable) TensorFlow: TensorFlow is an open-source ML framework developed by Google. It supports deep learning and allows building and deploying ML models across various platforms. It provides APIs for building neural networks, handling large datasets, and implementing advanced ML techniques. Learn more about TensorFlow here. (Website: https://www.tensorflow.org) PyTorch: PyTorch is another popular open-source ML framework that emphasizes flexibility and ease of use. It offers a dynamic computational graph, making it suitable for tasks like natural language understanding, image recognition, and reinforcement learning. Find more about PyTorch here. (Website: https://pytorch.org) Apache Spark: Apache Spark is a distributed computing framework that includes MLlib, a scalable ML library. It provides tools for ML and feature extraction on large datasets. Spark enables processing data in parallel and can be used for various FinTech analytics tasks. Explore Apache Spark here. (Website; https://spark.apache.org) These are just a few examples of tools and libraries used by FinTech companies for NLP and ML applications. Depending on the specific use case and requirements, companies may choose different combinations of tools and frameworks to suit their needs. 3. Social Media and Influencer Marketing: Social media platforms have become a central hub for engaging with customers and promoting FinTech services. Financial institutions and FinTech startups are embracing social media to build brand awareness, communicate with their audience, and launch targeted marketing campaigns. Moreover, influencer marketing has gained traction in the FinTech industry, as influential personalities with a strong online presence endorse financial products and services. The authenticity and reach of influencers help attract new customers and create a sense of trust in the digital financial landscape. 5 must use Social Media tools for Fin Tech companies. 1. Buffer – https://buffer.com 2. Agora Pulse https://www.agorapulse.com Agora pulse Social media planner dashboard 3. Later: https://later.com Later social media planner dahsboard 4. Co-schedule: https://coschedule.com Co schedule social media planner dashboard 5. Sprout Social – https://sproutsocial.com/ Sprout Social Social Media planner Dashboard 6. HootSuit: https://hootsuite.com Hootsuit social media planner dashboard 4. Enhanced Security and Biometrics: With the increasing threat of cybercrime, ensuring the security of financial transactions and user data is of paramount importance. The FinTech industry is incorporating advanced security measures and biometric authentication technologies to protect sensitive information. Facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and voice recognition are being used to provide secure access to financial accounts and prevent unauthorized access. By implementing these technologies, FinTech companies are instilling confidence in users and reinforcing trust in digital financial services. 5. Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies continue to disrupt the financial industry, and their influence on digital media trends cannot be overlooked. Blockchain's decentralized nature provides transparency, security, and efficiency, making it a valuable tool for FinTech companies. Digital media platforms are being developed to facilitate cryptocurrency trading, decentralized finance (DeFi), and smart contract applications. The integration of blockchain and cryptocurrencies into FinTech digital media solutions opens up new possibilities for seamless global transactions and financial inclusion. Conclusion: As we witness the ongoing digital transformation in the FinTech industry, the utilization of digital media is playing a vital role in shaping its trajectory. Personalized user experiences, video content, social media engagement, enhanced security measures, and the integration of blockchain and cryptocurrencies are just a few of the trends making waves in 2023. These trends are not only redefining the way we manage our finances but also fostering a more inclusive and customer-centric financial landscape. As the FinTech industry continues to evolve, we can expect digital media to be at the forefront, driving innovation and revolutionizing the way we interact with financial services. Automation tools such as Zapier, IFTTT, and Automation Anywhere are already widely used, but these tools are expected to become even more popular as businesses look to streamline their processes and reduce costs. 6. Content Marketing Content marketing is expected to be one of the most effective ways to reach potential customers, irrespective of which industry you are in. Content marketing platforms such as Buzzsumo, Hubspot, and Marketo are already widely used, but these tools are expected to become even more popular in the coming years. Businesses that are active in digital media are expected to see an increase of up to 25% in their market share by 2023. Businesses that use automated tools are expected to see an increase of up to 40% in their ROI. This shows the potential of investing in digital marketing and fintech apps in 2023. The trends for fin-tech apps and digital marketing in 2023 are expected to be very different from what we have seen in the past. Automation, content marketing, and AI are expected to be the major trends in this sector, and businesses that are active in this space are expected to see significant increases in their market share and ROI. Conclusion In 2023, digital media platforms continue to play a pivotal role in shaping and disseminating knowledge about the ever-evolving FinTech industry. TechCrunch and Bloomberg, among other reputable sources, provide valuable insights into the trends, innovations, and challenges within the FinTech space. Whether it's AI-powered chatbots, blockchain-based solutions, mobile payment advancements, or open banking initiatives, staying informed through digital media is crucial to understanding the rapid changes and opportunities in the FinTech industry. #Trends2023 #FintechApps #DigitalMarketing #Automation #ContentMarketing #AI #MarketShare #ROI

Revitalize your company's social media presence and witness a growth surge like never before! In this blog, I give you 10 powerful social media strategies, techniques and tools to attract a massive influx of visitors. Discover how to harness the full potential of social media platforms to drive engagement, boost brand visibility, and skyrocket your website traffic. Get ready to unlock the secrets of success and propel your company to new heights! Contents Ignite your social media strategy Create engaging content that resonates Leverage Influencer Marketing Harness the Power of Video Content Engage with Your Audience Run Attention-Grabbing Contests and Giveaways Optimize Your Social Media Profiles Utilize Hashtags Strategically Collaborate with Complementary Brands Analyze and Adapt The best Social Media automation tools 1. Ignite Your Social Media Strategy: The true power of social media lies within your company's objectives, target group and how you can help achieve their goals. Social media today is about helping your user succeed than helping your sales grow. Not all channels will work for all brands. Your company's social media presence in multiple channels will make an impact only if your users will resonate with product and brand values, communication and voice. Learn how to identify the right platforms, create compelling content, and optimize posting schedules for maximum impact. 2. Create Engaging Content that Resonates: Discover the art of crafting captivating content that captures attention and sparks conversations. Here are few techniques to create shareable posts, compelling visuals, and attention-grabbing headlines that resonate with your audience and encourage social media users to explore your brand further. Techniques for Creating Shareable Posts: Tell a Story: Craft a narrative that resonates with your audience. Share personal anecdotes, success stories, or emotional experiences that evoke strong emotions. For example, if you're a fitness influencer, you can share your journey from being overweight to achieving a healthy lifestyle, inspiring others to do the same.Consider incorporating characters, conflicts, and resolutions. Example: The Story of Stuff (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8) is a captivating animated video that explains the life cycle of material goods. Utilize Visual Content: Images and videos tend to generate higher engagement and shareability. Incorporate eye-catching visuals that align with your message. For instance, if you run a food blog, share high-quality photos of mouthwatering dishes or create short recipe videos that viewers can easily share. Example: TED-Ed (https://www.youtube.com/user/TEDEducation) often utilizes animation and visual effects to explain complex concepts in an engaging manner. Use Humor: Humorous content has a higher chance of being shared as people enjoy sharing things that make them laugh. Create witty captions, memes, or funny anecdotes that relate to your niche. For example, if you're a tech blogger, share a humorous image or GIF related to the latest gadgets or tech mishaps. Incorporate funny moments, witty dialogue, or humorous visual elements that align with your content. Example: Dollar Shave Club's "Our Blades Are F***ing Great" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUG9qYTJMsI) is a humorous and memorable advertisement that successfully grabs attention. Evoke Emotions: Appeal to your audience's emotions by creating posts that make them feel something. Share inspirational quotes, heartwarming stories, or thought-provoking content. For instance, if you're a travel blogger, share a post about a life-changing experience you had during your adventures, eliciting a sense of wonder and inspiration. Offer Valuable Tips or Advice: Provide practical tips, guides, or expert advice that your audience can benefit from and share with others. Create content that solves common problems or addresses challenges in your niche. For example, if you're a business consultant, share a post outlining effective strategies for boosting productivity or increasing customer engagement. Techniques for Creating Compelling Visuals: Use Vibrant Colors: Incorporate bold and attention-grabbing colors that evoke certain emotions or create visual impact. For example, a fashion brand might use bright and energetic colors to showcase their latest collection, while a wellness brand might use calming and soothing colors to promote relaxation. Visualize Data: Transform complex data or statistics into visually appealing infographics or charts. This technique simplifies information and makes it easier to understand and share. For instance, a health and fitness app can create an infographic illustrating the benefits of regular exercise or the nutritional content of common foods. Incorporate Typography: Experiment with different fonts, sizes, and styles to make your text visually appealing. Use typography to highlight key points or create a hierarchy of information. For instance, a graphic designer may use bold and eye-catching typography to emphasize the main message of a promotional poster. Include Relevant Imagery: Select images or illustrations that align with your message and resonate with your audience. Avoid generic stock photos and opt for authentic, unique visuals that capture attention. For example, a wildlife conservation organization can use striking images of endangered species to raise awareness about their cause. Use Contrast and Composition: Create visual interest by playing with contrast, balance, and composition. Use contrasting colors, arrange elements in a visually pleasing manner, and create focal points to guide the viewer's attention. For example, a home decor brand can showcase a beautifully arranged room with contrasting colors and well-balanced furniture placement. Techniques for Writing Attention-Grabbing Headlines: Use Numbers: Incorporate numbers in your headlines to convey a sense of specificity and provide clear expectations. For example, "7 Proven Techniques to Boost Your Productivity" or "10 Tips for a Successful Job Interview." Pose a Question: Ask a thought-provoking question that piques the reader's curiosity. This technique encourages readers to click and find the answer. For instance, "Are You Making These Common Mistakes in Your Workout Routine?" Create Intrigue: Craft headlines that evoke curiosity and make readers want to learn more. Use intriguing phrases or keywords that hint at valuable information or secrets. For example, "The Untold Story Behind the World's Most Famous Painting." Promise Benefits or Solutions: Highlight the benefits or solutions your content offers, addressing a problem or need your audience may have. For instance, "Discover the Simple Trick to Lose Weight Without Dieting" or "Unlock the Secrets to Mastering Guitar Chords in One Week." Use Power Words: Incorporate strong, compelling words that evoke emotions or create a sense of urgency. These words capture attention and entice readers to click. For example, "Unleash Your Potential with These Life-Changing Strategies" or "Don't Miss Out on the Exclusive Limited-Time Offer." 3. Leverage Influencer Marketing: Tap into the vast potential of influencer marketing to expand your reach and amplify your brand's message. Gain insights into identifying relevant influencers, building meaningful relationships, and creating impactful collaborations that drive traffic back to your website. 4. Harness the Power of Video Content: Embrace the rising popularity of video content and learn how to leverage it effectively on social media. Discover strategies to create engaging videos, optimize them for different platforms, and encourage viewers to take action, leading to increased traffic and brand exposure. How to harness the power of video content Apart from the earlier mentioned techniques to create shareable posts, compelling visuals, and attention-grabbing headlines, one could follow these tips to get the best of video content. Incorporate Interactive Elements: Interactive elements encourage viewers to actively participate and engage with the video. You can include quizzes, polls, clickable annotations, or even branching narratives that allow viewers to make choices. Example: BuzzFeed's "Which Disney Princess Are You?" quiz (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeN-VDqLtVo) engages viewers by involving them in a fun and interactive personality quiz. Optimize for Mobile Viewing: With the rise of mobile consumption, it's crucial to create videos that are optimized for small screens. Keep your visuals clear, concise, and easily readable on mobile devices. Consider using captions, subtitles, and bold graphics to ensure the message is conveyed effectively. Example: Tasty (https://www.youtube.com/c/buzzfeedtasty/videos) specializes in short recipe videos optimized for mobile viewing, with quick and visually appealing instructions. 5. Engage with Your Audience: Develop authentic connections with your followers by actively engaging in conversations and responding to comments and messages. Learn proven techniques to foster a vibrant online community, encourage user-generated content, and build brand loyalty that translates into higher traffic and conversions. 6. Run Attention-Grabbing Contests and Giveaways: Generate excitement and buzz around your brand by organizing enticing contests and giveaways on social media. Explore effective contest ideas, learn how to promote them, and use them as a powerful tool to attract new followers, increase engagement, and drive traffic to your website. 7. Optimize Your Social Media Profiles: Maximize the impact of your social media profiles by optimizing them for search engines and user engagement. Discover tips and tricks to enhance your bio, utilize keywords effectively, and showcase your brand's unique selling points to attract more traffic to your website. 8. Utilize Hashtags Strategically: Master the art of hashtag usage to extend your social media reach and amplify your content's visibility. Learn how to research and select relevant hashtags, incorporate them into your posts, and leverage trending topics to drive traffic to your profile and ultimately your website. 9. Collaborate with Complementary Brands: Explore the power of collaboration by partnering with complementary brands in your industry. Uncover strategies to cross-promote each other's content, tap into new audiences, and generate a mutual influx of traffic that benefits both companies. 10. Analyze and Adapt Your Approach: Continuously monitor and analyze social media efforts to gain valuable insights. Utilize analytics tools to measure key metrics, identify successful strategies, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your social media presence for increased traffic and conversion rates. Most social media channels also provide insights about audience engagement. Linkedin Business has an option under insights where it provides the topics of interest of those who respond to your posts. However, you need to reach a certain threshold of engagement before this feature could be unlocked. Social media presence is about consistency along with creativity and relevance discussed above. So here are some tools that helps in the process. The best Social Media automation tools 1. Buffer – https://buffer.com 2. Agora Pulse https://www.agorapulse.com 3. Later: https://later.com 4. Co-schedule: https://coschedule.com 4. Sprout Social – https://sproutsocial.com/ 5. HootSuit: https://hootsuite.com Conclusion These 5 powerful strategies to supercharge your social media presence and witness an explosion of traffic to your website. Embrace the opportunities offered by social media platforms, engage with your audience, and optimize your approach to unlock the true potential of your brand. Get ready to propel your company to new heights and leave a lasting impression in the digital realm.

Unleashing the Power of Software as a Service Introduction In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, software has become a driving force behind innovation and growth. One of the most prominent business models in the software industry is Software as a Service (SaaS). SaaS has revolutionized the way companies access and utilize software applications, providing flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. In this blog post, we will explore the key elements and advantages of SaaS business models. Contents 1. Key Elements of SaaS Business Models 2. Types of SaaS Business Models Subscription-Based Model Freemium Model Usage-Based Model Video Transcoding Tiered Model Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Model Marketplace Model White Label Model 3. Advantages of SaaS Business Models 4. Conclusion Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software licensing and delivery model in which applications are centrally hosted by a provider and made available to customers over the internet. Unlike traditional software distribution methods that require installation on individual devices, SaaS allows users to access applications via a web browser, eliminating the need for complex infrastructure and maintenance. Key Elements of SaaS Business Models Subscription-Based Pricing: SaaS businesses typically employ a subscription-based pricing model, where customers pay a recurring fee to access the software. This model offers several benefits, such as predictable revenue streams, lower upfront costs for customers, and the ability to scale usage based on business needs. Multi-Tenancy Architecture: SaaS applications are built on a multi-tenancy architecture, which means that a single instance of the software serves multiple customers (tenants) simultaneously. This shared infrastructure enables cost efficiencies, seamless updates, and easier customer onboarding. Variations in pricing models: These variations demonstrate the flexibility of SaaS business models, allowing companies to choose the approach that aligns best with their target audience and value proposition. Cloud Infrastructure: SaaS providers leverage cloud computing infrastructure to host and deliver their software applications. Cloud platforms offer scalability, reliability, and global accessibility, enabling SaaS companies to serve customers across different regions with ease. Continuous Updates and Maintenance: With SaaS, updates and maintenance are managed by the provider, relieving customers of the burden of software management. Regular updates ensure that customers have access to the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches without any disruption to their operations. Types of SaaS Business Models There are several software-as-a-service (SaaS) business models that have proven to be successful in the industry. Here are some of the best SaaS business models: 1. Subscription-Based Model: This is the most common SaaS business model where customers pay a recurring subscription fee to access the software. It provides a predictable revenue stream and allows the business to offer different pricing tiers based on features, usage, or number of users. Customers pay a recurring fee for access to the software or service. The subscription model variations includes; a. Monthly Subscription: Users pay a fixed monthly fee to access the SaaS product. b. Annual Subscription: Users pay an upfront annual fee for a year-long access to the SaaS product, often with a discount. c. Pay-as-you-go: Users are billed based on the actual usage of the SaaS product, with the option to scale up or down as needed. Here are some examples of subscription-based businesses based on the technology used and target audience: Technology: Video Streaming: Target Audience: Entertainment enthusiasts Example: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ Technology: Music Streaming Target Audience: Music lovers Example: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal Technology: E-learning Target Audience: Students, professionals seeking educational resources Example: Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare Technology: Cloud Storage Target Audience: Individuals, businesses needing data storage solutions Example: Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive Technology: Meal Kit Delivery Target Audience: Busy individuals, health-conscious individuals Example: Blue Apron, HelloFresh, Sun Basket Technology: Fitness Tracking Target Audience: Fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious individuals Example: Fitbit Premium, Peloton Digital, Apple Fitness+ Technology: Beauty and Personal Care Target Audience: Beauty enthusiasts, skincare and grooming enthusiasts Example: Birchbox, Ipsy, Dollar Shave Club Technology: Gaming Target Audience: Gamers Example: Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Humble Monthly Technology: Fashion Rental Target Audience: Fashion-forward individuals, event-goers Example: Rent the Runway, Le Tote, Nuuly Technology: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Target Audience: Businesses, professionals Example: Salesforce, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud 2. Freemium Model: In this model, the basic version of the software is offered for free, but advanced features or additional functionality are available through a paid subscription. It helps attract a large user base and converts a portion of them into paying customers by demonstrating the value of the premium features. In a freemium model, the basic features or a limited version of the software are provided for free, and customers can upgrade to a paid version for additional features or functionality. Variations for Freemium model includes; a. Feature-based Freemium: Offer a limited set of features for free, while charging for premium features. b. Storage-based Freemium: Provide a certain amount of storage space for free, and charge for additional storage. c. User-based Freemium: Allow a limited number of users to access the SaaS product for free, with fees for additional users. Here are some additional examples of Freemium SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) models based on the technology used and target audience: 2.1 Technology: Project Management Target Audience: Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) Example: Freedcamp offers a freemium project management software that allows SMBs to manage tasks, collaborate with team members, and track project progress. The free version provides basic features, while advanced features such as time tracking and invoicing are available in paid plans. 2.2 Technology: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Target Audience: Sales and Marketing Professionals Example: HubSpot offers a freemium CRM platform designed for sales and marketing teams. The free version includes basic CRM features like contact and lead management, email tracking, and live chat. Additional features such as automation and analytics are available in their paid plans. 2.3 Technology: Email Marketing Target Audience: Marketers and Businesses of all sizes Example: Mailchimp provides a freemium email marketing platform. The free version allows users to send emails to a limited number of subscribers, create email campaigns, and access basic analytics. Advanced features like automation, A/B testing, and advanced audience segmentation are available in their paid plans. 2.4 Technology: Social Media Management Target Audience: Social Media Managers, Agencies Example: Hootsuite offers a freemium social media management platform that allows users to schedule and manage posts across different social media platforms. The free version supports a limited number of social profiles and basic analytics. More advanced features like team collaboration and enhanced analytics are available in their paid plans. 2.5 Technology: Video Conferencing and Communication Target Audience: Remote Workers, Teams, and Businesses Example: Zoom provides a freemium video conferencing and communication platform. The free version allows users to host video meetings with a limited number of participants and offers basic features like screen sharing and recording. Additional features such as large meetings and cloud storage are available in their paid plans. 2.6 Technology: Customer Support and Help Desk Target Audience: Customer Support Teams, Help Desk Agents Example: Freshdesk offers a freemium customer support and help desk software. The free version allows teams to manage customer queries, track tickets, and provide basic support features. More advanced features like automation, multichannel support, and knowledge base management are available in their paid plans. 3. Usage-Based Model: With this model, customers are charged based on their actual usage of the software. It is particularly suitable for applications where usage can vary significantly, such as cloud storage or communication tools. Pricing is typically based on metrics like data storage, API calls, or active users. Customers are charged based on their actual usage or consumption of the service. Variations for Usage based model includes; a. Per-transaction Pricing: Charge users based on the number of transactions or actions performed using the SaaS product. b. Bandwidth-based Pricing: Users are billed based on the amount of data transferred or bandwidth consumed. c. API Calls-based Pricing: Charge users based on the number of API calls made to integrate with the SaaS product. Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) operates on a usage-based model, where customers pay for the computing resources they consume, such as storage, processing power, and data transfer. Here are some additional examples of Usage-Based SaaS models based on the technology used and target audience: These examples highlight the versatility of the Usage-Based SaaS model, catering to various technologies and target audiences, while aligning pricing with actual usage, offering flexibility and scalability for customers. 3.1 Cloud Storage for Developers: A Usage-Based SaaS model that offers cloud storage specifically tailored for developers. It charges based on the amount of storage used and the number of API calls made to access the stored data. Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service): A highly scalable object storage service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Website: https://aws.amazon.com/s3/ Google Cloud Storage: A durable and highly available object storage service provided by Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Website: https://cloud.google.com/storage Microsoft Azure Blob Storage: A massively scalable and secure object storage service offered by Microsoft Azure. Website: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/storage/blobs/ Dropbox API: Dropbox provides a cloud storage API that developers can integrate into their applications to manage files and folders. Website: https://www.dropbox.com/developers Box Platform: Box offers an API and SDKs for developers to integrate their cloud content management and collaboration platform into applications. Website: https://developer.box.com/ Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage: Backblaze provides low-cost cloud storage designed for developers, with an API for easy integration. https://www.backblaze.com/b2/cloud-storage.html IBM Cloud Object Storage: IBM Cloud Object Storage offers scalable and secure cloud storage for developers and enterprises. Website: https://www.ibm.com/cloud/object-storage Wasabi: Wasabi provides high-performance and affordable cloud storage solutions for developers with no egress fees. Website: https://wasabi.com/ 3.2 Video Transcoding for Media Companies: This Usage-Based SaaS model caters to media companies and provides video transcoding services. It charges based on the duration of videos processed or the number of transcoding jobs performed. - AWS Elemental MediaConvert: A cloud-based video transcoding service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It provides high-quality video transcoding for broadcast and multiscreen delivery. You can find more information and documentation here: AWS Elemental MediaConvert Zencoder: A cloud-based video encoding and transcoding service by Brightcove. It offers support for a wide range of input and output formats, along with features like adaptive bitrate streaming. More details can be found here: website: https://www.brightcove.com/en/products/zencoder/ Encoding.com: A cloud-based media processing service that provides video transcoding, encoding, and packaging solutions. It supports a variety of input and output formats and offers features like automated workflows and dynamic watermarking. You can visit their website for more information: https://www.encoding.com/ Bitmovin: A video encoding and streaming infrastructure provider that offers a range of solutions including transcoding, player integration, and adaptive streaming. They provide APIs and SDKs for easy integration into existing workflows. Here is their website for further details: https://bitmovin.com/ Telestream Vantage: A comprehensive media processing and workflow automation platform that includes video transcoding among its capabilities. It supports a wide array of formats and offers advanced features such as automated metadata extraction and intelligent decision-making. More information is available here: http://www.telestream.net/vantage/overview.htm 3.3 IoT Analytics for Manufacturing: A Usage-Based SaaS model designed for manufacturing companies utilizing IoT devices. It offers analytics and insights on machine data, charging based on the volume of data processed or the number of devices connected. 3.4 Virtual Meeting Rooms for Enterprises: This Usage-Based SaaS model targets enterprises and provides virtual meeting room solutions. It charges based on the number of participants, duration of meetings, or the number of concurrent meetings held. 3.5 Marketing Automation for E-commerce: A Usage-Based SaaS model aimed at e-commerce businesses, offering marketing automation tools. It charges based on the number of emails sent, the number of campaigns launched, or the amount of revenue generated through the platform. Hubspot: Website: https://ecosystem.hubspot.com/marketplace/apps/marketing/ecommerce 3.6 Geolocation Services for Mobile Apps: This Usage-Based SaaS model caters to mobile app developers and provides geolocation services. It charges based on the number of requests made to retrieve location data or the number of active users utilizing the service. Example: Google Maps Platform, Website: https://mapsplatform.google.com/, Mapbox, website: https://www.mapbox.com/, HERE Technologies: website: https://developer.here.com/ 3.7 Data Analysis for Financial Institutions: A Usage-Based SaaS model tailored for financial institutions, offering advanced data analysis and reporting capabilities. It charges based on the volume of data processed, the complexity of analysis performed, or the number of users accessing the system. Example: Tableau, Website: https://www.tableau.com/, Looker (formally Data Studio), website: https://cloud.google.com/looker/, Domo, Website: https://www.domo.com/, Power BI , Website: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/ 3.8 Cybersecurity Monitoring for SMEs: This Usage-Based SaaS model targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and provides cybersecurity monitoring and threat detection services. It charges based on the number of endpoints monitored or the level of security events detected. Example: SolarWinds Threat Monitor:https://www.solarwinds.com/threat-monitor, Alert Logic Website: https://www.alertlogic.com/, Sophos Central Website: https://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/sophos-central.aspx 3.9 Customer Support Ticketing for SaaS Companies: A Usage-Based SaaS model designed for SaaS companies, providing a ticketing system for customer support. It charges based on the number of support tickets created, the response time, or the complexity of issues resolved. Example Zendesk https://www.zendesk.com/, Freshdesk https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/, Help Scout https://www.helpscout.com/, Intercom https://www.intercom.com/, Jira Service Management https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management 3.10 Language Translation for Global Enterprises: This Usage-Based SaaS model caters to multinational enterprises and offers language translation services. It charges based on the number of words or characters translated or the complexity of the translation tasks. Ex: Google Cloud Translation API, Microsoft Azure Translator Text API 4. Tiered Model: In a tiered pricing model, the software is offered in multiple tiers or levels, each with a different set of features and pricing. This allows customers to choose the tier that best suits their needs and budget. It also provides an opportunity for upselling and encourages customers to upgrade to higher tiers as their requirements grow. Different pricing tiers are offered, each with varying levels of features, functionality, or usage limits. Variations for Tiered model includes; a. Basic, Pro, Enterprise Tiers: Offer different tiers of the SaaS product with increasing levels of functionality and support. b. Tiered Pricing by Usage: Provide multiple tiers based on usage limits (e.g., storage, users, or features) with corresponding pricing. Examples for Tiered model Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a tiered pricing model for its cloud services, such as Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service): AWS S3 Pricing Microsoft Azure also utilizes a tiered model for its cloud services, including Azure Blob Storage: Azure Blob Storage Pricing Salesforce, a leading CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform, has a tiered pricing model for its various editions, such as Salesforce Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, and Unlimited: Salesforce Pricing Shopify, an e-commerce platform, offers tiered pricing plans for businesses of different sizes, ranging from Shopify Basic to Advanced Shopify and Shopify Plus: Shopify Pricing Asana, a popular project management tool, has a tiered pricing model for its plans, including Basic, Premium, Business, and Enterprise: Asana Pricing Mailchimp, an email marketing platform, offers tiered pricing based on the number of subscribers, with plans like Free, Essentials, Standard, and Premium: Mailchimp Pricing 5. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Model: PaaS goes beyond offering a single software application and provides a platform for developers to build, deploy, and manage their own applications usually in a cloud environment, charging based on usage or resource consumption. PaaS providers charge based on usage or the resources allocated, such as computing power, storage, or network bandwidth.Variations for Platform as a service model includes; a. Developer Platform: Offer a PaaS that caters specifically to developers, providing tools and resources for building applications. b. Industry-specific PaaS: Provide a PaaS tailored to a specific industry, with pre-built templates and integrations relevant to that sector. Here are some examples of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) providers based on the technology they use and the target audience they serve: 5.1 Heroku (https://www.heroku.com/): Technology: Ruby, Java, Node.js, Python, and more. Target Audience: Developers and businesses looking for an easy-to-use cloud platform for deploying, managing, and scaling applications. 5.2 AWS Elastic Beanstalk (https://aws.amazon.com/elasticbeanstalk/): Technology: Java, .NET, PHP, Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, and more. Target Audience: Developers and businesses looking for a fully managed platform to deploy and run applications without worrying about infrastructure management. 5.3 Google App Engine (https://cloud.google.com/appengine): Technology: Java, Python, PHP, Node.js, Ruby, Go, and more. Target Audience: Developers and businesses who want to build and scale web applications and mobile backends on Google's infrastructure. 5.4 Microsoft Azure App Service (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/app-service/): Technology: .NET, Java, Node.js, Python, PHP, and more. Target Audience: Developers and businesses looking for a fully managed platform for building, deploying, and scaling web and mobile applications. 5.5 Salesforce Platform (https://www.salesforce.com/platform/overview/): Technology: Salesforce's proprietary programming language Apex, as well as languages like Java, JavaScript, and others. Target Audience: Developers and businesses looking to build custom enterprise applications, extend Salesforce functionality, and integrate with other systems. 5.6 Mendix (https://www.mendix.com/): Technology: Low-code development platform. Target Audience: Developers and business users who want to rapidly build and deploy applications using visual modeling and abstraction instead of traditional coding. 5.7 IBM Cloud Foundry (https://www.ibm.com/cloud/cloud-foundry): Technology: Cloud Foundry open-source technology, supporting various programming languages like Java, Node.js, Python, Ruby, and more. Target Audience: Developers and businesses who want to build, deploy, and manage applications with ease on the IBM Cloud. 6. Marketplace Model: In a marketplace model, the SaaS provider acts as a platform connecting software vendors with customers. Customers can browse and choose from a variety of software solutions offered by different vendors through a centralized platform. The provider earns revenue through a percentage of the transactions or subscription fees paid by vendors. Variations for Market place model includes; a. App Store Model: Create a marketplace where third-party developers can sell their applications or add-ons for the SaaS product, earning a percentage of their sales. b. Service Marketplace: Offer a platform where users can find and hire service providers who specialize in using the SaaS product. Here are a few more examples of marketplace models based on the technology used and their target audience: 6.1 Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com): Technology: Web and mobile applications Target Audience: Travelers and hosts Description: Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects travelers with people who have spare rooms, apartments, or homes to rent. It allows travelers to book accommodations and experiences in various destinations around the world. 6.2 Upwork (https://www.upwork.com): Technology: Web and mobile applications Target Audience: Freelancers and businesses Description: Upwork is a platform that connects freelancers with clients who need their services. It offers a wide range of categories, including web development, graphic design, writing, marketing, and more, enabling businesses to find and hire talented freelancers. 6.3 TaskRabbit (https://www.taskrabbit.com): Technology: Web and mobile applications Target Audience: Users seeking help with tasks and skilled service providers Description: TaskRabbit is a marketplace that connects users with local service providers who can help with various tasks, such as furniture assembly, moving, handyman services, cleaning, and more. Users can browse through available taskers and book them for their specific needs. 6.4 Etsy (https://www.etsy.com): Technology: Web and mobile applications Target Audience: Independent artists, crafters, and vintage sellers Description: Etsy is an online marketplace focused on handmade, vintage, and unique goods. It allows individual sellers to set up their shops and sell items like jewelry, clothing, home decor, art, and more directly to customers worldwide. 6.5 Rover (https://www.rover.com): Technology: Web and mobile applications Target Audience: Pet owners and pet care providers Description: Rover is a platform that connects pet owners with local pet sitters, dog walkers, and other pet care providers. It enables pet owners to find trusted individuals to take care of their pets when they're away or need extra help 7. White Label Model: This model allows other companies to rebrand and resell the software as their own. SaaS providers offer a customizable version of their software, enabling businesses to add their branding and sell it to their customers. The white label model expands the software's reach while leveraging the reselling company's existing customer base. Variations for White label model includes; a. Custom Branding: Allow businesses to customize the SaaS product with their own branding and logo. b. Reseller Program: Enable third-party companies to resell the SaaS product under their own brand name. Here are a few examples of white label models in different technology domains and their target audiences: 7.1 Payment Processing: Technology: White label payment gateway solution Target Audience: E-commerce platforms, online marketplaces, and businesses that require a payment processing infrastructure. Example: Stripe (https://stripe.com/) 7.2 Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Technology: White label CRM software Target Audience: Sales and marketing agencies, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and enterprises. Example: Salesforce (https://www.salesforce.com/) 7.3 Email Marketing: Technology: White label email marketing software Target Audience: Digital marketing agencies, businesses, and organizations seeking to provide email marketing services to their clients. Example: Mailchimp (https://mailchimp.com/) 7.4 Learning Management System (LMS): Technology: White label LMS software Target Audience: Educational institutions, corporate training departments, and online course providers. Example: Moodle (https://moodle.org/) 7.5 Ride-Sharing: Technology: White label ride-sharing app Target Audience: Transportation companies, taxi operators, and entrepreneurs who want to launch their own ride-sharing service. Example: Uber (https://www.uber.com/) 7.6 Cloud Storage and File Sharing: Technology: White label cloud storage and file sharing solution Target Audience: IT service providers, businesses, and organizations looking to offer secure cloud storage and file sharing services. Example: Nextcloud (https://nextcloud.com/) 7.7 Website Design and Development: Technology: White label website builder Target Audience: Web design agencies, freelancers, and businesses interested in providing website development services. Example: Wix (https://www.wix.com/) 7.8 Human Resources (HR) Management: Technology: White label HR management software Target Audience: HR outsourcing companies, HR consultants, and businesses in need of a comprehensive HR solution. Example: BambooHR (https://www.bamboohr.com/) Advantages of SaaS Business Models SaaS (Software as a Service) business models have revolutionized the way companies operate and deliver software solutions. By providing software applications and services through the cloud, SaaS offers a multitude of advantages for businesses of all sizes. Lower Costs: SaaS eliminates the need for upfront investments in hardware, software licenses, and IT infrastructure. Customers can leverage the provider's infrastructure, reducing costs associated with maintenance, upgrades, and support. Additionally, the subscription-based pricing model allows businesses to budget more effectively by spreading costs over time. Scalability and Flexibility: SaaS applications are designed to scale effortlessly, accommodating the growing needs of businesses. As customer demands change, organizations can easily increase or decrease their usage, adding or removing users as required. This scalability allows businesses to adapt quickly to market changes and avoid over provisioning resources. Accessibility and Collaboration: Since SaaS applications are delivered over the internet, users can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility enables remote work, facilitates collaboration among teams across different locations, and promotes productivity. Rapid Deployment: SaaS solutions can be deployed quickly, often requiring minimal setup and configuration. With traditional software, organizations face lengthy implementation processes, but SaaS applications are ready to use, allowing businesses to start benefiting from the software immediately. Continuous Innovation: SaaS providers have a vested interest in continuously improving their products to retain and attract customers. Through regular updates and new feature releases, customers gain access to the latest advancements without the need for additional purchases or installations. Conclusion Software as a Service (SaaS) business models have reshaped the software industry, offering a compelling alternative to traditional software distribution models. By embracing the subscription-based pricing, multi-tenancy architecture, and cloud infrastructure, SaaS providers have unlocked a new level of scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for businesses of all sizes. As the SaaS market continues to evolve, businesses can leverage these models to gain a competitive edge, improve operational efficiency, and stay ahead in the digital race. Whether you're a startup looking for a streamlined software solution or an enterprise aiming to enhance collaboration and productivity, SaaS offers a promising path forward. Embrace the power of Software as a Service and unlock the potential for growth and innovation in your organization. Follow me for more content on tech and Saas models, or write to me on fernando.romanthi@gmail.com

As businesses become more reliant on technology, managed service providers must step up their game when it comes to reaching their target audiences and helping them manage their technology needs. Digital marketing platforms and strategies provides a great opportunity for managed service providers (MSPs) to reach the right target audiences, promote their services, and provide the most cost-effective solutions to the customer’s needs. Contents: 1. Main USPs a MSP can state in marketing 2. The potential of Digital Marketing for a managed service provider 3. Digital Marketing Trends in the Managed Services Provider Industry Automation of Digital Platforms Automation tools used by MSPs Remote monitoring and management tools Security tools Backup and disaster recovery systems Patch management tools Helpdesk and ticketing systems Big Data Analytics Personalization Mobile Integration AI and Machine Learning Main USPs a MSP can state in marketing MSPs can use digital media to help their customers migrate to the cloud, protect against disaster and maintain data security at a lower cost. Cloud migration saves businesses money, as it reduces the cost of hardware and software maintenance, and it also improves scalability and availability. In addition, cloud migration can help reduce the risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks, and it can provide better data security and privacy.The cost savings of managed services is not limited to cloud migration. MSPs can also help businesses protect against disaster, such as cyber-attacks, which can be costly and damaging. By leveraging digital media, MSPs can help businesses develop and maintain effective strategies to protect their data and systems from malicious attacks.Furthermore, MSPs can use digital media to help businesses maintain data security at a lower cost. Data security is essential for businesses, as it prevents data breaches and other malicious attacks. MSPs can use digital media to promote the benefits of using managed services to maintain data security at a lower cost. The managed services industry is rapidly growing, and MSPs must take advantage of digital media to reach their target audiences. Digital media provides a great opportunity for MSPs to connect with the right target audiences and promote their services. By leveraging digital media, MSPs can help businesses save money through cloud migration, protect against disaster and maintain data security at a lower cost. The potential of Digital Marketing for a managed service provider The potential for a managed service provider to gain from digital marketing strategies is limitless. It all depends on the company’s individual marketing strategy, how well they execute it, and the size of their customer base. Digital marketing strategies can lead to increased brand recognition, more website traffic, increased leads and sales, and a larger customer base. Depending on the size of a managed service provider, these results can lead to millions of dollars in potential revenue. Digital Marketing Trends in the Managed Services Provider Industry 1. Automation of Digital Platforms: Automation is becoming increasingly important for managed services in digital platforms, as it helps to streamline processes and reduce manual labor. Automation can be used to automate customer service operations, marketing campaigns, and content delivery. 5 Types of Automation tools used by Managed service providers: 1. Remote monitoring and management tools: These tools are used by MSPs to keep track of their clients' networks and systems, detect issues, and respond proactively and remotely. Examples include Kaseya, SolarWinds, and ConnectWise Automate. 2. Security tools: These solutions can scan networks and systems for security threats, issue alerts, and provide additional layers of protection. Examples include McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro. 3. Backup and disaster recovery systems: MSPs use these solutions to keep data safe and available in the event of system failure or other emergency. Examples include Acronis, Veeam, and EMC. 4. Patch management tools: These solutions help MSPs ensure that software is always up to date and secure, without requiring manual intervention. Examples include Microsoft Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Kaseya, and SolarWinds Patch Manager. 5. Helpdesk and ticketing systems: These solutions enable MSPs to provide efficient customer support services, track issues, and automate repetitive tasks. Examples include Zendesk, TeamSupport, and Freshdesk. 2. Big Data Analytics: Big data analytics has become an integral part of managed services in digital platforms, as it helps to identify customer behaviors, trends, and insights. This data can then be used to tailor marketing campaigns and make informed decisions. Here are 22 big data Analytics tools Used by Managed service providers 1. Apache Hadoop 2. Apache Spark 3. Apache Flink 4. Apache Kafka 5. Apache Storm 6. Microsoft Azure HDInsight 7. IBM Bluemix 8. Google BigQuery 9. Amazon EMR 10. Tableau 11. Qlik Sense 12. Splunk 13. Talend 14. Elasticsearch 15. Cloudera 16. Pentaho 17. SAP HANA 18. IBM Watson Analytics 19. Oracle Big Data Discovery 20. Alteryx 21. Google Cloud Machine Learning Engine 22. Data Bricks 3. Personalization: Personalization is key to providing a better user experience and improving customer loyalty. Managed services in digital platforms can use data to provide personalized content, products, and services. 4. Mobile Integration: Mobile integration is essential for managed services in digital platforms. This allows users to access information and services from any device, and it also helps to build relationships between the brand and the customer. 5. AI and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning can be used to optimize customer experiences and personalize recommendations. This is increasingly important for managed services in digital platforms, as it can help to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. 10 Machine Learning tools for a Managed service provider 1. Apache Spark 2. Google Cloud AI Platform 3. Microsoft Azure Machine Learning 4. IBM Watson Machine Learning 5. Amazon SageMaker 6. TensorFlow 7. H2O.ai 8. DataRobot 9. BigML 10. KNIME 6. Remote Monitoring Tools: Remote monitoring tools allow MSPs to monitor their customer networks in real-time and detect problems before they become serious. Popular remote monitoring tools used by MSPs include SolarWinds N-central and Kaseya VSA. 10 remote monitoring tools used by a Managed service provider 1. Cloud-Based Monitoring Solutions 2. Network Performance Monitoring Tools 3. Server and Application Monitoring Tools 4. Proactive Monitoring Solutions 5. Automated Configuration Management Tools 6. Network Security Monitoring Tools 7. IT Asset Management Software 8. System Availability Monitoring Solutions 9. Capacity Planning and Performance Analysis Tools 10. Event Log Monitoring Solutions If you want to enhance your Managed Services operations in 2023 and grow organically, contact us at fernando.romanthi@gmail.com

Listen: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/lk/podcast/jargon-nots/id1656207769?i=1000589737347 Spotify: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/GS5QRAFxFvb Climate change remains a looming humanity issue because of how complicated and unintegrated the actions are. In 2015, when the world leaders collectively adopted the Paris Climate Accord, it seemed the world was together in fighting the inevitable enemy facing our next generation: climate catastrophe. But, five years later, it looks like we are far from rounding the corner of the “zero Carbon emission” target. Hi, my name is Romanthi and welcome to your favorite podcast channel jargon-nots - where we discuss the why’s and what’s of various aspects of digital marketing. Today’s episode is about Climate change and how social media influences the movement Glad to have you with me today. So the question is, can we actually reverse the adverse climate changes? A lot of people might still see climate change as an existential problem that needs gradual actions rather than drastic approaches. Despite the lack of opportunities in the high seat of government to take measures gradual or drastic, the difference in the real world is that people can still speak their voice to protect mother earth. One of the main ways to influence others is by social media. The influence of social media is immensely huge today when many are relying on the internet to learn, gather information, entertain, and socialize. Climate change on social media has thus become a point of interest, discussion and knowledge sharing. Interactive content on climate change was widely seen over the last few years on social platforms like following an account, liking or commenting on posts, posting or sharing content about the need for action With the rise of the creator economy and the growth of re populating content, climate change is one of the widely followed topics on social media. Among U.S. social media users, 45% of Gen Z adults and 40% of Millennials have engaged with climate change related content in some way By contrast, we see a much smaller shares of users in Gen X (27%) and Baby Boomer (21%) have interacted with climate change topics on social media users But with all this awareness generation, can social media actually make an impact on world issues such as climate change? This got me thinking. Greta Thunberg, is synonymous for climate change awareness among millennials. She had an ambitious goal of turning her country’s parliament stand on climate change by starting a student movement called “Fridays for future” in 2018. Later the campaign continued as the global climate strike in September 2019 participated by 6 million people in 150 countries. Her 4800 KM voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on a zero-emission yacht, and the speech titled “How dare you?” during the United Nations Climate Action Summit has inspired young people across the world. The year 2019 was definitely the time when the public finally woke up to climate change. This awakening of climate concern mostly by young people. So how much awareness was built? Was this movement which was online and offline sufficient to build enough awareness in the world? The effect differed by Generation when it comes to positive emotional reactions: 54% of Gen Z and 53% of Millennial social media users say they felt motivated to learn more about climate change issues the last time they saw climate content on social platforms, compared with 43% of Gen X and 39% of Baby Boomer and older users. As far as awareness, and generating interest goes for such a concerning and global topic such as climate change, being able to create more than 50% interest among a subsection of audiences is commendable. But what has it done in reversing the effects of climate change? In other words does social media awareness building have an effect on the real world? (According to an article published by researchgate.net in July this year) for instance, the majority of #Instagram users who use the hashtag #climatechange are not engaging in dialogue but they are mostly one-sided mentions dominated by influencers. These too are in the form of text comments that include pro-social or community-building posts, which tend to occur much more often for high-profile influential users than they do for community users. According to some research specialists, (Jennifer Whyte, an online engagement and content specialist from Oceana) not all climate change campaigns have well-planned targets, and even turn out to benefit only the creator. Even though a campaign is being promoted on social media to a big audience, it may not necessarily mean big actions. This behavior of posting about an issue, but does little in implementing it. Is often derisively referred to as “slacktivism” (Morozov 2009; Sherer 2015; Boulton 2017). Where It is characterized as “a sort of lazy form of activism that appears on social media in the form of likes, shares, or follows. This is, however, an inevitable obstacle that activists attempting to use these technologies must overcome” (Sherer 2015). What we should understand about social media is that it provides us with an opportunity to understand social, cultural, and environmental issues about people’s perception of sustainability across topics of international iterate. According to research done in 2018 - 2019 using over 400k #Twitter accounts for key hashtags in the field of sustaiblaibily In connection to the community analysis , this represents the main hashtag in the Climate Change and Renewable Energy community. The hashtag #climatechange had the strongest links with the hashtags #climate, #renewableenergy, and #globalwarming The most interconnected topic with sustainability is area of innovation; Could this mean that youngsters have already identified that climate change is possible if renewable energy sources are used or made more affordable through innovation? I guess we just have to wait and see.. On #Tiktok, #climatechange has over 3.8billion views. #globalwarming 1.6 billion views. With renewable energy around 200million views. But now we are faced with a chicken and egg situation. What came first? Was social media activism that leads to climate change control? This got me curious. What I found out was interesting. From 2013 to 2016, communication around low-carbon construction and energy efficiency influenced the online narrative. More significant interactions on net-zero transition, climate tech, circular economy, mass timber housing and climate justice in 2017–2021 shaped the online climate action discussions.. In this light if we look closer at the relationship between social media and climate change from a politics/policymaking angle, and how that may shape user opinion and reactions. Social media and citizen journalism has increased the immediacy of breaking news. This seems to have influenced the acceleration of the speed at which politics is conducted and perceive In summary, sometimes, seeking attention on social media benefits society at large. But what is required is for that attention to revolve around the socially important matter that can influence decision-makers so that our shared future will have better hope and prospects of growth. ==== Okay folks that’s all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed today’s show, if you have any feedback, please make sure to write to me, on the email link provided here. Sources of where I’ve gained inspiration and data are also in the links below. Sources: Social media and perceived climate change efficacy: A European comparison,(Tuitjer, L. Dirksmeier, P 2021) Link: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S266637832100009X?token=0A3FCDFF88E9D55A4B611E7478EBE483C54B9F16F452F820814A08820383B8DCBE8E7982009C936C5E387A5FD6F0C138&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20221130230641 On social media, Gen Z and Millennial adults interact more with climate change content than older generations. Pew Research Center,(Lynne C , Tyson A, 2021) Link: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/06/21/on-social-media-gen-z-and-millennial-adults-interact-more-with-climate-change-content-than-older-generations/ The #Instagram #climatechange Hashtag Community: Does It Impact Social Capital and Community Agency? International Journal of Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies 12(3):17-35 Hodson J, Royal Roads University, Dale A, Royal Roads University 2018 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324881668_The_Instagram_climatechange_Hashtag_Community_Does_It_Impact_Social_Capital_and_Community_Agency The Power of Social Media to Fight Climate Change (Andrio B, Safrina R, 2021) Link: https://accept.aseanenergy.org/the-power-of-social-media-to-fight-climate-change/ Ladislav Pilaˇr 1,* , Lucie Kvasniˇcková Stanislavská 1 , Jana Pitrová 1 , Igor Krejˇcí 2 , Ivana Tichá 1 and Martina Chalupová Social media enables people-centric climate action in the hard-to-decarbonise building sector (Debnath R etal) 2022 Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-23624-9 Email: fernando.romanthi@gmail.com

Podcast transcript https://anchor.fm/contentio https://anchor.fm/contentio Listen on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/lk/podcast/jargon-nots/id1656207769 Do you think any amateur can randomly become a social media influencer and rise to a brand-driven fandom? If you thought yes, well becoming a successful influencer takes much more internal drive and external factors than you think it would. Hi, my name is Romanthi and welcome to your favorite podcast channel #Jargonots - where we discuss the why’s and what’s of various aspects of digital marketing. Today’s episode is about The future of social marketing with influencers. Glad to have you with me today. ——————— Social media is a space many companies and creators try hard to strike the correct chord. We are exposed to nearly 17 social media platforms with a combined 300 million active user base. Tiktok’s influencer marketing industry alone, is expected to hit $16.4 billion this year according to #statistica, pulling in many creators and influencers to success. Now more than ever, there’s more opportunity for companies to compete for top creators at a lower price point. But in a report published by #Hootsuit surprisingly, 72% of smaller companies did not work with influencers, and only 42% of larger companies did use influencer marketing. This got me wondering, what is causing this resistance even in light of the influencer marketing boom? Main reason is volatility in pricing. The one question that gets most marketers thinking is the pricing mechanism for an influencer. The lack of standardization gets Many top-notch creator agencies to smaller businesses feel the same way about how much is enough? But Could there be more reasons? this got me thinking… What gets an influencer to puts in time and effort to build a content strategy that gains phenomenal followers? And while they are great at it and attract sponsors, why do they get judged for what they are worth? Can a brand make an influencer rise or fall? There is actually a motivational science behind this. An influencer is driven by the rewards of self or self-determination. This was initially highlighted by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, in their 1985 book Self-Determination and Intrinsic Motivation in Human Behavior. The self-determination theory suggested that people tend to be driven by a need to grow and gain fulfillment, this is, essentially the intrinsic motivation behind influences who do what they do. And this is true for Many social influencers their social networks are based on intrinsic motivation, as an outlet for themselves or because they enjoy inspiring, helping, or educating others. But As their audience grows, their motivations may also gradually change to or expand. As you would have noticed and experienced yourselves, some sponsored content, will not be as popular among the same follower base compared to a non-paid post. As a result, Studies have shown that some influencers can become less motivated when it comes to creating and sharing sponsored posts and behaviors (Neal, 2017; Audrezeta et al., 2020). This emphasizes the importance of focusing on intrinsic motivation in interventions with social influencers to keep them engaged in the promoted behaviors. ======== One example that highlights the relevance of this, can be seen when the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in the Netherlands launched the health campaign for COVID-19 with the hashtag #onlytogether In this campaign, social influencers were rewarded extrinsically with money to post a video or message on their social media to promote the government-imposed COVID-19 measures on social distancing But A few months later, some of these influencers turned against the government policy and urged others on social media using the [#idonotparticipateanymore] hashtag to stop adhering to these COVID-19 measures (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting NOS, 2020). From this perspective, I dug deeper to find out more possibilities as to why this would occur and whether there could be a workaround that helps influencers allowing them to be perceived as credible and authentic by their followers and reliable and consistent by brands. In a research article published by frontienrsin in 2022, I found some interesting Techniques for Motivating Social Influencers. The research team used two sets of groups to prove each of these techniques. The first technique, was to test the APPROACH This study was done using influencers who promoted youth health behaviors. Two groups of influencers, one group was entirely trained online and no personal interactions. The other group had purely face-to-face interactions. What they discovered was shocking. With the less personal, online approach group, the results showed lower social influencer engagement than in the group who experience face-to-face interactions, This shows that the relationship between the intervention developer and the influencer that provides follow-up sessions with regular support is an important factor in determining the success of the ultimate influencer engagement. (Santiago and Castelo, 2020). Another systematic review, indicated that the Technique for Motivating Social Influencers is the use of non-controlling language. To prove this, two groups were used, one group of influencers was exposed to highly controlled language, for training and briefings and even communication in general. While the next group was given more autonomy. The results showed that the group of influencers who were exposed to non-controlling language were more likely to perceive choice and collaboration and the marketers were offered choices and even encouraged to ask questions. In contrast, the groups who was exposed to a more controlling language left social influencers feeling that performing the behavior is not their own choice. And in fact, These feelings of external pressure showed resistance whereby they disregarded the desired behavior and even tended to do the opposite Essentially, The way in which the training or briefing is communicated to social influencers is also important to ensure that they feel connected, given the freedom of choice and space to internalize the information. ————— So how do we know what works? Theory is one thing, but let’s dive into some real-life business examples. Let’s break this down. To find out what works, first, start by doing your research across all social networks/ and having an initial assessment of what works. It 100% starts with the audience. Know where they are. When brands like #Walmart, #UltaBeauty and #Amazon willingly partnered with Clare McLaughlin , A self-proclaimed “Martha Stewart Jr.,” who is a Tiktok influencer for #BudgetLuxury, they didn’t have to worry about doing an audience audit. Her targeting was very clear. She shares hacks and tips for interior design and home organization with bit of luxe to their home, without breaking the bank. These brands are saved by dictating terms of brand guides and controlling the influencer more specifically because her content already successfully resonates with the brand and the audience. Making things easier for everyone. And That leads us to identify the purpose. The UK based sustainable underwear brand #Pantee also does something similar. They specifically partnered with creators who advocate the same values as the brand, which are sustainability, mental health and body positivity. one important aspect #Pantee tries to achieve is target creators who use the brand specifically for the partnership as a value of truth and transparency, which is vital in social creativity, because the followers, will always find out. Like #Pantee, it’s best to get to the game plan knowing your purpose and values your business stands for. So when using an influencer, chose someone who finds it easier to connect and maintain a consistent brand voice within the audience and a clear purpose and identity. This makes it possible for a sponsored message to make an impact without impacting an influencer’s usual response rates. ======== Finally, don’t be limited by reaching to influencers only with Large follower sizes. One of the best examples of this is seen with the Engineering school, #Purdue University in Indiana The influencers consists of student ambassadors and interns As they signed up for the influencer programs, they are given brand voice training, templates, and special tags, so that the students, have free reign of their Instagram account and create content themselves and even view reports. The unique tags keep the Digital Engagement team aware of what is posted and were even able to spot a potential crisis before it spins out. As a result, they were able to increase their social media engagement by 25% Sometimes what’s really more important is finding the right creators/ who can collaborate with you/ to make inspiring content/ relevant to your product or service. To wind up, I leave you something to think about: Do you support creators for the type of content they produce?/ or for reflecting your brand values in what they publish? All that being said, here are my key takeaways for today. Watch out for the creators within your industry and make sure you make the correct choice ahead of time. you can get about that by using a free tool like Ninja outreach. 29% of brands used products and freebees as influencer payments, 15% of brands didn’t pay anything at all. And Less than 12% of brands paid anything aver USD 1000. Use UTM codes to track influencer results. If not, you can use a social media tool to track post success and keep multiple teams collaborating. The future is the creator economy. And with eyes wide open, your success depends on spotting the influencer when he’s still small. ———— Okay folks that’s all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed today’s show, if you have any feedback, please make sure to write to me, on the email link provided here. For most of the data used here I used the #Hootsuit social media trends report for 2023. =======

Onboarding does not end after the user signs up. It’s a journey that keeps refreshing at each level of subscription and product goals. Like customer journey maps, onboarding journey maps are designed to help organizations better meet their users’ needs. A successful SaaS onboarding plan typically reduces the amount of time it takes for them to get value and focuses on converting faster. Contents: Developing a template or roadmap for the onboarding process 7 key elements that should be included in a onboarding journey map How to reduce churn rates by perfecting your client onboarding process How to prevent voluntary churn Is there a difference in B2B and B2C churn rates? Why does B2C have higher churn rates? How to map out an onboarding plan that converts. Like customer journey maps, onboarding journey maps are designed to help organizations better meet their users’ needs. The best plan is created over a time of testing and accepting what works. Developing a template or roadmap for the onboarding plan optimized for conversion: Simplify your workflow Help align teams around common priorities and goals Improve the outcomes of the customer onboarding process 1. Simplify your workflow: Too much information on the onboarding screen that clutter the learning process, runs the risk of scaring new users away before they’ve even started. Get users to experience the 'aha' factor in 3 steps or faster through an onboarding post. Ex: 'Congratulations, now you can start; / One question you should ask yourself is is it really necessary that the user learns about this feature right now? How can I simplify this message further? You need to remember your onboarding goals and drive the user smoothly towards the aha moment while hitting those goals without overwhelming. How much is too much clutter? To get the message across, Four or five onboarding screens and not more. using an image, animation, product storytelling, or even a 1-on-1 demo would work wonders. Touch points to intentionally be aware of clutter: Multiple CTAs, Website, Emails, Onboarding posts, Social media creatives, Ads, Videos 6 elements of Simplicity (Fogg) Time: how long till the solution Money: is it 'worth' Physical effort: are we there yet Brain cycles: complexity Social deviance: is it celebrated Non-routine actions: helpful? 2. Help align teams around common priorities and goals 76% of the companies use progress bars to visualize the progression, 74% of them have a dedicated customer onboarding team, and 60% of them use 4-6 tools for customer onboarding. 3. 10 steps to Improve the outcomes of the customer onboarding process 1. Start early An onboarding process starts right after a prospect becomes a lead. From giving free information, product tours, Demos and trial packages or asking for feedback, they are all part of onboarding. Essentially, ensuring the prospect feels welcome and has value in the product. Your product might have a premium or free trial at the most basic stage. Either way, an automated onboarding process, which is relatively easy to set up will elevate the entire onboarding experience toward improving conversion. Make sure customers know where they can go with their questions, or give them occasional tips in their inbox to provide them ongoing support. 2. Give Customers a Proper Handoff to CSMs If your product is more of a B2B SaaS, or a product that includes larger implementations where sales teams function separately from customer support, a proper handoff will need to be put into place. At no point should a user wonder what the next step is. This handoff should also happen as soon as possible. Or, at the very least, the customer’s kickoff call should be scheduled early in the onboarding process, as soon as the agreements are signed. Using the right onboarding or CRM tools can help make the transition easy for the user. 3. Personalize the Process for Each Customer As a lead goes through the sales process, they’re answering questions (via web forms or surveys) about company size and whether they’re a decision-maker. Use this information, and anything else the sales team gets about customers, to personalize the onboarding process that could be used to improve the initial product experience and would ensure conversion Every new user will download your product for two or three core features. Within the onboarding experience, the user will need to move towards this feature as fast as possible. Once a customer is comfortable with using those features, the user can be transitioned towards the more complicated features using further onboarding emails, and interactive walk-throughs. The high level of confidence in using the product, within the existing flows will ensure conversion when the trial period has ended or are renewals 4. Give Your Users Quick Wins Consider working with the product team on the onboarding process to set up an interactive training session within your app or product. Let’s say you offer a social media scheduling app. Having a pop-up that asks a customer to create their first post and publish will be a part of the initial hook created that would lead to a conversion. Include arrows and instructions. After a customer completes each task it could be a trigger for a follow-up email or post. 5. Create a Self-Serve Onboarding Process Quite in contrast to the previous tips for guided and automated onboarding guides, the self-service type of onboarding is useful for customers familiar with the product territory and having worked with traditional versions of the software. Ex: A graphics designer or video editor having used CorelDraw or Adobe illustrator will find tools like Photoleap or Videoleap. These users may prefer to figure it out on their own For these users, give them a checklist in an email or within your product of things to do, but don’t hold their hand through it. Many users prefer to find the answer to a question they have on their own—more than 90% of customers watch videos to help them understand a product or app. If you don’t already have these support sections on your site, consider adding them: Not only will these be useful for customers who are familiar with the concepts, but customer support and sales teams can use them for troubleshooting. Here are few examples: Knowledge base of how-to articles FAQs with the most common questions and answers Search function How-to videos for every feature of your product 6. Show Customers Their Progress Through Onboarding Whether your users prefer the DIY approach as above or they want help along the way, an easy way to make sure customers feel you value their time is to offer an update on their progress through onboarding. 7. Reach Out at Milestones & Offer One-on-One Meetings showing users their weekly or monthly achievements is a deeply underrated element on a journey map, particularly when expecting activation and retention. Let the users know how much they have achieved so far. It would typically translate to be a KPI from their perspective. The key to setting milestones is understanding the customer’s desired outcome, or what they’re hoping to achieve with your service or product. So, if your ideal customer needs your email app to send bulk emails to their clients. Work backward to create a roadmap for them toward the first bulk email they’ll send. Once they do so successfully, congratulate them on a well-crafted bulk email. From there, encourage them to use additional features to make their emails even better. 8. Consider Gamification to Keep Customers Engaged in Onboarding How to improve the customer onboarding process and potentially increase conversions? Turn onboarding into a game for your customers. Gamification has a lot of promise in various ways, including the learning process. It’s a great way to engage customers and you can offer them rewards for completing tasks or reaching milestones. LMS’ such as Eloomi can translate to onboarding for customers making it fun and rewarding for your customers to achieve their goals. Consider trying these gamification ideas: Let customers create an avatar that looks like them and includes a progress bar that shows their avatar going milestone to milestone ex: Linkedin, Facebook. Create a point system that allows users to earn points for completing tasks in onboarding—in the end, they can redeem their points for branded gear or an extension of their trial ex: FourSquare, Google Reviews. Add fun quizzes at each milestone with questions about features customers learned about during onboarding and offer rewards for high scorers 9. Ask for Feedback About the Product & Onboarding Improving your customer onboarding process is going to be tricky if you don’t know what’s working and what isn’t. engage users in a survey for feedback after the onboarding phase. Using language/market fit to make your product resonate better will encourage honest responses, as well as inspire marketing to structure better content strategy. There are many ways to ask active customers for feedback: Net Promoter Score Looking at customer that use/ don’t use/ stopped using a feature When customer/affiliate gains a new user General check-ins Replacing welcome/ set up completion with onboarding surveys At the halfway point of the customer onboarding flow After using the product for n time. Just before the end of their trial when asking users about upgrading their service. Based on their response, you could with extend the trial period, give a better discount or target help responses. Once you get the feedback, make sure to act on it. When ever you get a positive review, ask them for permission for publishing them on social media. This way your marketing team will not need to revisit the user for permission. Even if a customer has stopped using your product altogether and has essentially churned, you still might want to reach out. Some of the most valuable information comes out of a churned customer interview. Plus, you can throw in a few questions about the product or features to help out the product team. 10. Track How Your Customers Use Your Product Hopefully, you’re tracking how customers interact with your product or service. Keep an eye on the last time customers logged in and how long they were active. Are they using all the features? These data points will help you personalize outreach to customers who are struggling with a tool or to find value in the product at all. In addition to helping individuals use your product or service, the data on a whole can help identify the biggest pain points and improve the onboarding process. 7 key elements that should be included in a onboarding journey map Opt-in and sign-up forms. Opt-in forms and sign-up forms are the point of transition when prospects convert into customers. These forms are part of the larger customer journey as users transition into the long-term customer life cycle starting with marketing and moving on to sales. They should be simple, easy, and painless, like every other part of the onboarding journey. Welcome emails and follow-up emails. These emails are designed to start the relationship off on the right foot and keep customers engaged. They should be crisp, ideally free from too much detail. Surveys and Feedback forms: engage users in a survey for feedback after the onboarding phase. Using language/market fit to make your product resonate better will encourage honest responses, as well as inspire marketing to structure better content strategy. Initial training and walkthroughs. Once new customers start using the software, they should be offered a quick in-app tutorial. Using automated email marketing tools and onboarding specialists can provide these introductory lessons quickly, efficiently, and without the need for human intervention. Reminders and nudges posts: Reminding to update app or the showing the option to upgrade will feel the need of inclusion and prevent them from an involuntary churn Achievements and milestones: showing users their weekly or monthly achievements is a deeply underrated element on a journey map, particularly when expecting activation and retention. Let the users know how much they have achieved so far. It would typically translate to be a KPI from their perspective. Customer support and technical support. In some cases, new customers will need to contact support staff. They should have fast access to customer support through, for instance, pop-up chat software or easily accessible contact forms. And when support is necessary, support staff should focus extensively on improving the product experience. Each touchpoint on the onboarding journey map should have descriptors such as: Users’ goals, or what they want to accomplish at each stage Goals for the onboarding team, Descriptions of the users’ mindsets and feelings How to reduce churn rates by perfecting your client onboarding process What is churn rate and how to calculate it A basic churn rate is determined by taking the total number of customers you started with in a given time period and then tracking how many you lost by the end of that time. It’s also worth tracking how many new customers decided not to renew during that time. This is your company’s churn rate. The main reason for churn is non-payment of subscription. However, there could be a greater opportunity, with the at-risk customers: those who are close to leaving but haven’t yet. They are the users who on a CRM tool will be marked as 'slipping away. Here are some reasons as to why it would be so: 1. Has a competitor approached your client? 2. Have you lost focus on the goal? 3. Are there delays to address? 4. What can you do to rebuild the relationship and trust? A proactive approach may thwart customer churn this time, but it requires better communication and an improved process to ensure mistakes don’t happen again Churn rate by industry B2C subscription businesses experience higher customer churn rates than B2B businesses. How to prevent voluntary churn Shorten Time-To-Value Client onboarding should start with one question: What is the client’s goal? Whatever it may be, that response is your opportunity to project how your product or service will meet those goals. The sooner your customer sees the value your product adds to their company, the more likely they are to extend their relationship with you Increase Customer Engagement First, develop resources that show customers how to use your product, then make these resources accessible in your knowledge base. Allocate clear team tasks and timelines to publish help articles, videos and demos. Have less of overlap of these multiple goals to one team member, as this would be overwhelming. Next, communicate expectations to team members about roles, expectations, timelines and other features in the onboarding process in advance. If there are KPIs attached to any of these deliverables, they should be communicated in advance along with an outlet for help for the creators. Consider using an automated, centralized digital platform that allows your team to share information, assign tasks, attach documents, post status updates and communicate with your customer in their preferred form of correspondence (e.g., email, text, phone, online chat, etc.). Having an internal alignment shows externally, so teams should be empowered and inspired instead of draining them. Be Clear About The End Date Customers with specific requests would work towards a deadline. If your product is easily replaceable, relationship alone will not prevent them from switching to the next best option. Set clear tasks and deadlines within the product and customer support teams. Communicate product roadmaps to customer support teams in advance so they would be able to attribute a churn over a specific issue. Is there a difference in B2B and B2C churn rates? The average churn rate for B2C subscription companies is around 7.05% - considerably higher than that of B2B companies. The common challenges faced by a B2C Saas company is higher competition, payment problems and weavering levels of interest. Why does B2C have higher churn rates? Lower prices. consumers are more likely to make an impulsive purchasing decision, which is likely to result in hitting the "unsubscribe" button down the road. Simplicity. Individual B2C customers don't need to get approval from the boss before subscribing to a service. Similar to lower prices, the simplicity of making a purchase can lead to impulsive buying. Higher volume. B2C companies sell more - which leads to higher churn rates. Better onboarding. An organized and effective customer onboarding process will build trust and ensure customer loyalty from early on. Long-term pricing. Annual subscriptions can help you retain customers longer and ensure recurring revenue. Showcase your “best” features. Every online tool has a core set of features that users use more than others. Figure out which features these are and ensure that customers are onboarded into seeing their value. Engagement. Customer engagement is an ongoing interaction between your business and its customers. Focus on improving user experience and resolving customer complaints and queries as soon as they arise. Better cancel flows. When your customers are leaving, you can make the most out of it by creating a proper customer offboarding process. 65% of SaaS B2B services experienced a decrease in their overall churn rate subsequent to taking steps to reduce both voluntary and involuntary churn. Furthermore, companies can reduce customer churn by 67% if they focus on customer solutions during the first interaction with a new client. In fact, having an onboarding experience, moves customers across the buyer funnel and were three times more likely to purchase.

One of the proven ways to get free traffic to your website is link building. The #1 result in Google, has 3.8 times more backlinks than position #2 - #10. Link building is a process where a link on your website is shared in other websites. This is also called a backlink. A Backlink is a great indicator that your content is worthy of recognition. More backlinks your website has, more likely your website will receive traffic. Contents: What is link building 6 ways to improve your backlink profile 4 alternate methods of getting free traffic: 1. Social Media 2. Email marketing 3. Linkedin 4. Hashtags 5 helpful tools to help you manage link building Ahrefs Linkody Buzz Stream Moz.com Ninja outreach What is link building The primary goal of link building is to improve your website's search engine rankings through organic traffic. But links can also increase your brand recognition and referral traffic. That's why it's important to track and measure your link-building efforts. 6 ways to improve your backlink profile. Aim for high-quality links from high-domain authority sites. Google prefers popular sites that are relevant to the subject of the website. Reach out to industry-related websites and form partnerships with players in your niche. Publish content upgrades - Share value-driven content your target groups can download and use. If these links can be used by high authority domains, it would add greater value. Publish content about ‘why’, ‘what’, infographics and videos Publish ‘ultimate guides’ Build links from outdated content (update/ optimize old blogs) 4 alternate methods of getting free traffic: Social media Social Media presence and engagement is a great way to promote your content. It is also a great way yo build awareness to your brand and build a community around your values. However, coming up with a successful social media content strategy that engages and generates shares can take time As starters, maintain consistency in all social channels and your website. Engage with your followers and be responsive. Take part in discussions. Avoid spamming or making comments as a means to getting attention, this can be more harmful than bringing organic traffic to your website. It’s always best to be your authentic self and be genuine in your feedback and responses. Email marketing One of the best ways to drive free traffic to your website is to create a newsletter. This way, you can stay in touch with your customers and provide useful content, such as links to other pages, that may interest them. If you are new to the newsletter space and mean to build a base the best way is by showing them you have content of value. Offer a free content upgrade they will need to sign up for. Twitter allows you to ask followers to subscribe for the newsletter, this is another way of gaining new followers. However, be mindful not to overwhelm your subscribers. Just as much as spam mail gets to you, your followers will not want to read content that was recycled or overused. Come up with new content, findings and case studies that will keep them waiting for more. Here is a guide to plan your Email marketing automation strategy, that does not spam users. LinkedIn As a business leader, one of the most important things you should do to increase the visibility of your website is to get active on LinkedIn. Although doing this will not increase traffic to your website overnight, sharing your latest findings and joining group discussions is a great way to stay connected. Hashtags While hashtags allow a single post to be found on the platform it's been posted on, through increasing reach and impressions. Hashtags, mostly used in social media, would help get more visibility to your posts. But it would also have a derived effect on incrasing site traffic if used in high visibility descriptions, captions and bios. Since hashtags act as keywords that help people understand what type of article or post you've published, it potentially increases reach, engagement, revenue, or followers. 5 helpful tools to help you manage link building Publishing killer content on your blogs and website is important. In 2021, only 2.2% of content generates links from multiple websites. But if your brand is relatively unknown, your voice is likely getting lost in the sea of content. To find the content pieces that are performing well in your industry and link used by your competition, use tools that allows you to keep track and build your domain rank faster. Listed here are 5 tools for link building. 1. Ahrefs One of the best and most widely used tools for backlink tracking as well as keyword research. Briefly to the context of link building to get free traffic, the ‘link intersect’ feature, you can find who links to your competitors. if you can find a site linking to all your competitors, you could also stand a chance to have your link placed on their site. Cost of tool USD 99- 999. No free plan 2. Linkody Great for those starting off to build their websites - cheaper link building tool and user friendly. Linkody helps identify pages with most backlinks. You could chose to double down on what works or reverse engineer to improve what needs more backlinks to grow page traffic. It also helps you identify the health of each backlink and referring domain. This helps you know which pages should be indexed, updated for quality or be mindful of spammy links, and the link's domain popularity ranking, when the number is lower, higher the traffic. If you are expecting a link to go live soon, you can start tracking it in advance. It even gives you the option to track cost. Pricing: $14 - $139 per month, 30 day free plan - no credit card. 3. Buzz stream This is a helpful site if you are an advertising agency or have a larger team. Buzz stream works in two ways. You can type in the link you need to track for backlinks on the discovery bar or import URLs from a CSV file. The best part for an advertiser or an agency is the publisher and influencer tracking. whether it’s with a personal friend or influencer – reporting and visibility is necessary for a client or organization. BuzzStream helps you achieve that through the publisher and influencer tracking feature. Buzz stream also helps you find the contact info of the website you wish to have backlinks. Finally, connect your email with BuzzStream. This lets you reach out to people from within the platform and analyze the status of each email Pricing: $ 24 - $999, Free plan 14 days, credit card required. 4. Moz.com This is a super user friendly tool, with the ability to test it especially if you are browsing tools on a budget. It's featured options are displayed in a easy to navigate interface. Moz allows you to track the inbound links, top pages, and linking domains of your competitors as well as the domain authority. This also helps you maintain link tracking, useful if you are venturing out to grow site traffic by link building. Moz allows you to test 10 queries Free, for one month. No credit card is required, only sign up. At the end of whichever comes first, Pricing: $99-$999 per month. 5. Ninja outreach This site literally lands on a page that asks you to enter the influencer id on Instagram or Twitter. Helps you find Business Profiles And Social Media Influencers In Any Niche And Location. Either type Keywords To Access Millions Of Profiles And Their Email Addresses or find a name by handle. it’s more SEO-focused than other outreach platforms. Yes, you can sort the results based on social metrics (like Facebook fans or Instagram followers). It gives a whole new outlook for keeping track of influencers with a built-in CRM. You can add Team Members, Organize Leads With Filters And Notes. Track Conversation Histories, Email Opens, Clicks, And Replies. Because NinjaOutreach is designed for link builders, you can get granular with SEO metrics too. Specifically, you can sort results by Domain Authority, Page Authority and number of backlinks. Pricing: $69-$599/month. 7 day trial, Credit card required. 36% of businesses hire outside experts or freelancers for link building efforts. marketers say they use zero to ten percent of their total budget on link building, 69% of marketers believe that buying links positively impacts search rankings. Just as much as speed and scale is important to build traffic and domain authority, it's also important to understand the fundamentals of search intent. With so much of search activity in Google each day, you need to take control of the goals, message and content strategy so that the algorithm works in service of the marketing objectives you set.

Hashtagging is one of the easiest and proven ways of improving your post, page or reach. When connected with the right time, among the right group and the content that resonates at the moment, the power of the word amplifies the brand or product presence, potentially increasing reach, engagement, revenue, or followers. This post guides you through how hashtagging helps in SEO, how hashtag works in each social media platform, and hashtag generator tools. Contents: 1. Difference between a hashtag and keyword 2. Does hashtags help in SEO 3. How does each platform respond to hashtags ? Instagram Facebook Linkedin Twitter Pinterest Tiktok 4. Best hashtag generator tools 1. What is the difference between a hashtag and a keyword? As marketers, keyword research is crucial for ranking and optimization. But is there a difference between trending hashtags and keywords? Can they be used interchangeably when we optimize blogs or run PPC campaigns? Unlike categories to tags in Wordpress, hashtags and keywords are not the same. While hashtags allow a single post to be found on the platform it's been posted on, a.keywords helps increase the chances of specific pages or posts of your site showing up in search engine results. But on a broader perspective, Hashtags act as keywords that help people understand what type of article or post you've published. But to make the distinction clearer, a hashtag to a post is what a category is to a website blog. It makes it easier to be ‘found’. 2. Does hashtags help in SEO? Yes, it does. Because hashtags act like keywords for your social media posts, it helps reach out to users who are potentially looking for the type of content. Furthermore, integrating social media to impact website performance is something that marketers should definitely take advantage of. Here are a few benefits of using hashtags to improve SEO. So it should ideally be related to the brand/ product or content. Establish your credibility and expertise Reach an audience who values your insights. Start meaningful conversations over shared interests. Your content may be picked up by potential advertisers and be used for commercial purposes. Being consistent with your brand/ product line and relevant hashtags, connects people and builds communities resulting in trends and traffic for the topic. 3. How does each platform respond to hashtags ? Hashtagging varies according to your industry and the social media platform. Here is a lost of social media platforms and how hash tagging varies. 3.1 Instagram Instagram is one platform that benefits with more the merrier. More hashtags help your posts be seen by a broader audience. Recommendation is to use at least 9 hashtags, but using more would be more helpful. Here’s the fun part. Instagram hashtags are, what is know as long tail keywords in SEO. Longer the phrase of the keyword used in you post, higher the potential of engagement. Being more specific with they long tail keyword will ensure your audience will also be more interested in the content you post. 3.2 Facebook When it comes to Facebook, it’s a different game. Facebook looks more toward the intent of the post and hashtagging could send diminish the effectiveness of the post. Recommendations are to use not more than 3 per post. It would also typically take more time to understand what hashtag works better, as compared to other channels. 3.3 Linkedin Linkedin has an important SEO strategy you should be aware of. The recommended number of hashtags to use on a Linkedin Post is 3. Linkedin also recommends using a combination of long tail and niche keyword phrases. If you are on creator mode, you can add up to 5 topics you want to be seen for. Although with Linkedin, broader hashtags enable you to be discovered better. On Linkedin, when you create a post and add hashtags to it, it will take the first 3 hashtags and add them to your URL link. With this in mind, it’s very important to think of the hashtags that are most important to the post and be sure to include them first. In this way, you’re more likely to get recognized from those hashtags first. This hashtag strategy works very closely with SEO to help your posts get recognized by people who are looking for them. 3.4 Twitter With Twitter hashtags, you need to be more natural and relevant. Your post will gain more responses and engagement if the reason behind the hashtag is specific to the content, instead of many random keywords. Unlike other platforms, Twitter hashtags should be used to summarize your content that relates to the tweet. Unlike other platforms, Twitter trends indicates trending topics at the moment in your locality or based on whom you follow. This will help you keep in touch with trending hashtags. But as it goes with Twitter, if you want to make the best of trending hashtags, identify the Twitter trending topics before it starts to stay on top of the wave. 3.5 Pinterest In Pinterest, as it hosts many shops of individuals and companies, hashtags are one of the main methods of reaching audiences searching for relevant content. Hashtags are one of the best ways to describe the content of the pin. Have a more quality approach when describing than the quantity of hashtags used. However, Pinterest recommends 20 hashtags per pin. But using 5 - 10 highly relevant hashtags at the end of the pin, at alt text will also help you go far in terms of optimizing for search results within the platform,. 3.6 Tiktok Being the popular Gen Z platform to create content and state connected, the best way to increase reach on Tiktok is hashtags. Your objective as a content creator would ideally be to appear on the ‘for you’ tab, which is the most relevant based on the content you've posted. Here are some best practices for Tiktok Hashtags. Make sure your hashtag aligns with your content Create on crafting one or two great hashtags that are instantly recognizable and easy to share. Recommended number of hashtags for Tiktok is 3 - 5 Combine niche hashtags with popular/trending ones Consider your caption character count, Tiktok allows upto 300 characters on your caption which includes hashtag count. Leverage on trending hashtags, effects, audio or sound clips while creating your story or template. There are literally thousands of each of these elements that would trend. 3.7 You Tube Optimizing your videos to make them easily found is the best way to maximize your exposure on YouTube. You can do this by adding the proper description, titles, captions to your videos as well as using relevant hashtags. You can add up to 15 hashtags in the description but the first 3 hashtags are the most important because YouTube takes these first 3 hashtags and adds them as clickable links above your video title: Hashtag generator tools If you create a variety of content pillars and feels like creating hashtags is becoming more repetitive and finding your hashtag niche is becoming a challenge, you are not alone. Fortunately for you and me, there are many free hashtag generator tools available for each platform, and some of these even customize hashtags based on the country. Here is a list of these free hashtag-generating tools: 1. Inflact Instagram hashtag generator Inflact is an AI-based searcher — generate hashtags for social media automatically. This hashtag generator for Instagram provides you with relevant hashtags by analyzing your photo, keyword, or link and it's categorised across nearly 100 topics 2. Tags Finder : Hashtag generator for Twitter and Instagram Tagsfinder finds finds the best hashtags for your post, checks out the best hashtags in your country, browses related hashtags used by Instagram and Twitters users and finds the most used hashtags in your city or country. 3. TubeRanker: You Tube hashtag generator TubeRanker suggests hashtags based on your initial target keyword. The tool indexes the tendging keywords and suggests pararell hashtags based on the keyword you want to rank for. Using these hashtags can then help improve the discoverability of your video. Simply enter your target keyword, then choose from a shortlist of trending hashtags. You can choose up to 15 hashtags but ultimately, it will boild down to the first 3 hashtags as these will be shown above the video title. 4. Facebook Hashtag Generator The Hashtags generator tool suggests lists of hashtags when you add one tag on the search bar. The tool searches for hidden and niche keywords and suggests then based on search volume, competition level and organic reach. However, it can only search for a hashtag that is already entered in the system. if you search for a custom word, it may not show results. 5. Tuktools.com: Pinterest and Linkedin Hashtag Generator Tuktools breaks down quick and simple top pertinent hashtags for your brand or products in the related country. 6. Tiktok Hashtags: Tiktok hashtags gives you a collection of the most popular hashtags for the keyword entered. it also gives an overall posts and views breakdown at that moment as well as an analysis of all related hashtags. 7. Linkedin Hashtag Generator Although there isn't a direct channel to search for Linkedin Hashtag posts, Tucktools is an effective tool that also works for Linkedin hashtags. Conclusion What makes a digital marketing campaign successful is taking a holistic approach to each channel and understanding how each one can serve the other. Using social media and SEO to work together instead of independently can have a significant, positive impact on your website. So start implementing strategic hashtags for added SEO and website benefits!

Saas based products rely on email marketing to see a customer through the acquisition and conversion journey. 2021 recorded email marketing as the most automated (64%) with social media coming second (47%). With the help of one-to-one demos and on-demand how-to videos, email marketing automation has proven to be a successful channel for customer support and digital marketing to monitor conversions. What is an email marketing automation strategy? Targeted emails report 46% open rates and drive 18% more revenue. Triggered emails report an open rate of over 75% with a CTR of nearly 152%. Email is only the visible engagement component of the overall digital marketing strategy of your company. In order to get to email strategy, you need to figure out what your Digital Marketing strategies are and how you plan to reach them with your communication objectives. The below chart gives an idea. This article will help you explore various email automation content formats for 3 crucial Saas-based subscription scenarios. These situations are user journey based, therefore include the communication objective at each level, what should be done, and tips to avoid common mistakes. What is discussed: 1. Improve new visits to lead conversion rate 2. Conversions to a Paid user 3. Win-back strategies 4. 5 Email automation tools you can use in 2022 Scenario 1. Improve new visit to lead conversion rate Saas companies make the most use of email automation for every stage of the user behavior cycle. Starting from sign-up, and onboarding to retention. We've heard the term that the first impression creates a lasting impression. Ideally, marketers need to Improve new visit to lead conversion rate to be able to get the 'wow effect' fast as possible. What you can do: - Map out an onboarding plan: The idea is to get your new user experience easy using your product. Sit with customer support or PM to understand the process - Focus on customer's needs: If your product is at a mature stage and you have more competitors around it, focus your content on benefits to users than features of the product. - Credit card at trial: For Saas companies, retained customers give 80% of the revenue than new users. So why request for a credit card at trial when you can use it as a win-back strategy? While credit card trials improve lead quality, no credit card trials have an 80% conversion rate. What you should not do: - Avoid clutter: avoid using multiple call to actions, pop ups with all the latest features and discounts. - Assume it's too early for feedback: Let them fill in a short survey for feedback. Or map their path using a tool such as HotJar. - Assume all customers are the same level of 'tech-savy': Keep a lookout on who are slower in the adaptation process. Use separate lists with more youtube content and blogs on how to navigate across your site for 'beginner level' users than 'expert level' users. Scenario 2: Conversions to a Paid user Only 2.7% of your trial users will stick around after day 30. Although churn is expected, with a solid email marketing automation strategy, you are able to understand the reason behind it, as every product will be different as so with user expectations. What you should do: - Use existing email lists to identify the following user segments: - Subscriptions ending soon - Trial users who are not active - Paid users who are slipping away - Send targeted emails to these bases. Map out email triggers and where in your product platform should they be sent to. Email automation tools like Intercom or Active Campaign can segment lists and plan triggered email automation. - Give discounts or coupons: Paid users who are slipping away are better saved at this point by enticing them with discounts. - Schedule demo calls: Make it easy for trial users and active subscribers to reach out to you. If it's harder to increase your customer support bases, use an email automation tool to manage predictive conversations and increase triggered emails. Having one-to-one sessions will improve user experience and help them speed up their journey through the conversion funnel. Use an online meeting scheduling tool like Calandy. - Make yourself available: Use chatbots, and empower customer support with help articles or product tour videos, software tutorials or website yours for interactive walk throughs using tools such as Loom, Click up or Soapbox What you should not do: - Look desperate: Making sad faces and stating the obvious (you have not paid yet) can be spammy when overdone, even in the content form. - Unsubscribed users: Don't keep on sending emails to users who have unsubscribed from your service. I receive emails exactly after the 6 month period of unsubscribed duration for tools only tested but not used. Make sure your emails are seen by those who show interest/ are active within your tool. Scenario 3: Win back strategies Win back strategy for churned paid users could include tactics like discounts and promotions. We've heard the term prevention is better than cure. Same goes for retaining existing users. Build a email marketing strategy using automation to trigger emails at the right time. What you can do: - Content upgrades: give value to your lost users. Using past data on frequency and type of business they are in, make the content upgrades relevant. - GO with a performance plan/ promise. Everyone wants results before you ask for their money. Understand reason behind churn and project better returns and results than before. - Stay engaged: Use social media channels to stay engaged, speak about case studies, success stories and new features introduced. - Be relevant - Keep it brutally relevant ex: subject line: Time to update! Give brief summery of what the updates consist of. What you should not do: - Ignoring A/B Testing: Test for subject line, copy and CTA. Tools like Intercom gives you the option to test between audience types as well as message variations. - Avoiding automation: Email automation tools like Intercom, User Pilot and Active Campaign can build trigger based emails, posts, chats bots, for multiple audience options. Use these options to make the best out of the 2.7% that activates, before they churn. - Not looking at engagement data: All automation tools comes with inbuilt analytics. track patterns on how your users move within the site and the frequent blockers they face. Create goals and events and conversion tracking to extract specific behavior patterns you want to see among your users. 5 Email automation tools you can use in 2022 1. Active campaign: Delve into sales automation, conditional lead scoring, automation split testing, multi-automation journey maps, and SMS marketing and automation with Active Campaign at a basic subscription plan. 2. Mail Chimp Mail Chimp is ideal for a start up, where it gives a bang for your buck with 2500 sends for a 500 contact base for one seat. It allows the basic automation features and offers a clean layout. Carry out AB testing and map individual journeys listed in your Customer Journeys dashboard. 3. Get Response Get response connects with paid ads and e commerce sites apart from the email automation features and AB testing. Also facilitates AI driven code free website builder, much needed for lead generation emails and sign up forms. Ideal for entrepreneurers, digital marketers and large companies. 4. Hubspot Email automation comes at a higher subscription tier. Comparatively easier to set up workflows. Allows integration with many other email automation tools. Easy integration and good on customer support. Quite a few hidden costs, so be aware! 5. Intercom Easy to use tool, options available for testing content and control groups. Comes with customizable templates for series/ workflows with the flexibility of creating your own attributes. Able to customize interactive product tours within the app, apart from the usual email automation features available. Conclusion Email automation is an important element on your Saas user acquisition and retention strategy, which is overlooked by many saas developers. Using the scenarios of buyer behaviour such as visit to lead conversion rate, conversions to a Paid user and win back strategies use multiple social and creative content strategies to keep your users active and engaged.