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19 Must-Have Marketing Channels to Try Now (+Tips to Make Them Work for Your Business)

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19 Must-Have Marketing Channels to Try Now (+Tips to Make Them Work for Your Business)

I think we can all agree that ice cream is great, but it’s even better with the right toppings. When it comes to promoting your small business, your marketing plan is the ice cream and your chosen channels are the toppings. Your foundation is great, but you need those layers on top to maximize results.

With the right channels, your marketing plan can look this good!

We’ll show you how building your strategy with the right marketing channels is like building the perfect ice cream sundae—trying some of each kind will bring in the sweetest success! Here is how we’ll break it down:

Use this post to make picking your marketing channels easier than choosing toppings for a sundae.

What are marketing channels?

Marketing channels are the various places you promote your business and/or communicate with your target audience—both online and offline.

For example, a potential customer could see a print ad and navigate online to learn more. From there, they might search for your business on Google, see a video about your brand on YouTube, or find your business on social media.

That’s all part of a multichannel marketing strategy that ensures you catch every potential customer within your sales funnel.

Types of marketing channels

Typically, there are two types of marketing channels most businesses use:

  • Traditional marketing channels: any channel that’s done offline, like TV, radio, and print.
  • Non-traditional marketing channels: any digital channel that’s done online, like search ads, email marketing, and more.

However, these labels can be a bit outdated. They don’t accurately reflect the ever-changing marketing space as many channels could now fit into either of these categories. How you choose to organize your different types of marketing channels will depend on what makes the most sense for your business. That said, knowing the difference between these two types of marketing channels can help you ensure you’re promoting your business both online and offline.

What is the best marketing channel for your business?

Like with anything in marketing, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to which channels you choose for your business. The best marketing channels for your business might be different from the channels your competitor is using. Ideally, you’ll use as many marketing channels as possible to maximize your chances of interacting with potential buyers throughout their customer journey. Be ready to test various marketing channels and benchmark your progress to find out what mix of channels is right for you.

The top free marketing channels: 

As you plan out your campaigns, these are the marketing channels that should make up the foundation of your strategy since they require little to no marketing budget:

1. Local SEO

This past year, 46% of Google searches had local intent. Plus, searches for “near me” or “close by” have grown by over 900% since 2018. This means that in 2023 and beyond, local SEO will continue to be a game-changer for small businesses.

SEO stands for search engine optimization. In other words, you’re working to get your business to show up on search platforms like Google or Microsoft’s Bing. Local SEO takes things a step further by optimizing your onsite and offsite content specifically for local searches.

The best part about this marketing channel is that it’s completely free. No cost means no reason to not have local SEO as a part of your marketing plan!

Quick tips for local SEO:

  • Optimize your website. Page load time factors into your SEO ranking. You can check your site’s speed by running page speed tests. Plus, 55% of people use a mobile device to search for local businesses, so you’ll want to cater to your local mobile audience by making your website easy to navigate on a small screen.
  • Prioritize the user experience. Understanding what your local audience will want once they arrive to your website will help you stay one step ahead of any deterrents.
  • Identify the right local keywords to focus on. Finding out how local customers are searching is a key step to local SEO success. If you’re struggling to know which keywords to use, our resources on keyword research can help!

wordstream free keyword tool results

An example of finding keywords to fold into your SEO strategy.

2. Local listings and online reputation management

Today, 93% of people read online reviews before making a purchasing decision. What’s even better is that people are now willing to pay 22% more for a product or service if the company has a good online reputation.

Achieving that stellar online reputation in 2023 all comes down to managing your local listings. Your local listings not only show up on the specific listings’ sites—like Yelp, Google Maps, and CitySearch—but they can also help you to show up in search engines.

Plus, listings like the Google Business Profile allow customers to find vital information about your business. For example, your business description, contact hours, or address can all be found in one spot.

What’s even better is that local listings are a completely free way to promote your brand.

Tips to elevate your local listings:

marketing channels - local listing example

 Source

3. Organic social media marketing

This year, social media marketing is a must-have marketing channel. That’s because there are now 3.7 billion active monthly social media users worldwide, and the average US adult currently spends over two hours per day on social media.

Some examples of popular social media platforms you can promote your brand on are:

Within the social media channel, you have two options: organic, or unpaid, social media marketing and social media advertising.

Your organic social media marketing strategy relies on engaging your audience and building a community. Plus, with those numbers and options to choose from, you’re sure to catch your ideal audience on social media this year. To do so, establish social media marketing goals.

Preplan what you’ll post (plus where you’ll post it) and how you’ll track success. Using a social media scheduling tool or leveraging a marketing partner can help you with this.

Tips for your organic social posts:

  • Use engaging media. Consumers prefer digesting videos and images over just plain text.
  • Leverage your followers for content. To drive engagement, call out your followers by running contests to have their posts featured on your page.
  • Try hashtags. Hashtags help your organic posts get found and add creative flair.

marketing channels - chart of number of hashtags and engagement for organic social media

4. Word-of-mouth marketing

Word-of-mouth marketing can be just as effective as other free marketing channels, like online reviews and local listings, since 84% of people weigh online reviews the same as they would a word-of-mouth recommendation from friends or family. This means that word-of-mouth marketing is a highly trusted channel for customers to learn more about your business.

Word-of-mouth marketing tips:

  • Run a referral program. A referral program motivates your loyal customers to spread the word about your business.
  • Prioritize customer service. Ensure that every customer has a smooth, seamless experience with your business. When you offer a good quality customer service experience, your customers will be 38% more likely to recommend your business to others. Additionally, 72% of customers will share a positive experience with six or more people. Focusing on your customer service will maximize your chances of gaining more word-of-mouth marketing.

5. Networking and partnerships

The connections you build throughout your career can turn into mutually beneficial partnerships. When you network with other small businesses and local organizations, you’re opening up opportunities for people to learn more about you and your business. This could lead to partnerships with other business owners or organizations where you could cross-promote one another’s offerings. Networking also allows you to share marketing ideas and source inspiration for new campaigns based on what your connections are doing.

Networking tips:

  • Keep an open mind. If a business unrelated to your industry is interested in connecting with you, don’t immediately turn down the opportunity to network. Instead, see how your offerings could complement one another. You might uncover more opportunities to reach one another’s customer base.
  • Practice active outreach. Try to keep a running list of potential businesses or contacts you’d like to connect with. That way, you can draft tailored networking emails, call scripts, or direct messages to increase your chances of building a meaningful relationship with them.

marketing channels - example networking email

6. Event marketing

Whether you’re running your own events, or joining in on community and industry events, event marketing provides countless ways to grow your business with any budget. Both in-person and virtual events can help you get more leads. In fact, 79% of U.S. businesses use event marketing as a lead-generation tactic.

Event marketing tips:

  • Promote your events on social media. Social media is a great place to raise awareness and attendance for any events you host or participate in. Some platforms, like Facebook, even give you the option to create an event page or event countdown that you can invite users to opt into. Start your social media promotions ahead of the event to create buzz, then take lots of photos and videos during the event to share out after.
  • Try participating in varying capacities. Different approaches to event marketing will bring you different results. For example, you could try sponsoring or volunteering at a community event, and measure that against hosting your own event.
  • Track everything you can. Hosting or participating in events can be a whirlwind, so tracking can easily get pushed to the back burner. However, it’s crucial to have a way to measure the success of your event. Be sure you’re able to track how many people registered or attended your event, and how many may have interacted with your business. Look out for any increases in leads during or after the event, too.

The top paid marketing channels

Although the following marketing channels will require you to spend a bit of your budget, the marketing ROI can be well worth it for your business!

7. Social media advertising

The beauty of social media is that you can market your business for free or decide to put a bit of budget towards paid social ads.

Paid social ads help you to show up in your follower’s feeds more efficiently, and even reach folks who may not be following you yet.

You don’t need a monster budget to get started with social advertising. For example, you can start by putting a few dollars behind an organic post you already created—which will “boost” or “promote” it.

Tips for your paid social content:

  • Have a clear and unique call to action. With so many social ads getting thrown at your viewers, being clear on what you want them to do when they see your ad will help you stand out.
  • Be sparing with your text. You’re putting money towards a post that’s working with limited space in social feeds. Don’t let your text get cut off by keeping your points clear and concise.
  • Refresh ads often. Social media is now a quite saturated space, give your audience something fresh to look out for every once in a while by swapping out your images and ad copy.

marketing channels - linked ad example

An example of a small business’s paid social ad on LinkedIn. 

8. Search advertising

Today, 97% of consumers search online for local businesses, and a local PPC strategy is a great way to guarantee your business will show high in search results when they do.

PPC, or pay per click, ads (also known as search engine marketing, SEM, paid search, and more) show up above organic results on the search engine results page for searches related to your business—making local PPC the perfect marketing channel to complement your local SEO efforts.

Quick PPC tips:

  • Find a reporting method that works for you. With so many PPC metrics that can clue you on performance, finding a tool to understand your account’s data is crucial. There are plenty of free, online options like Google Analytics or Google Data Studio.
  • Leverage automation when you can. Automation has been on the rise in PPC platforms, you can use this to create smart ads or smart campaigns that do a lot of the build-out and optimization work for you.
  • Be patient! The hardest part of running ads is being patient. All ads go through a “learning period” as platforms test them out to different queries. This can last up to two weeks, or even a whole month, at minimum. However, if you treat PPC as a time investment, you’ll be sure to see stellar results by the end of 2023.

marketing channels - screenshot of search ads on serp

An example of search ads on the search results page

9. Display ads

Along with paid search, one of the other main forms of PPC ads is display ads. Display ads are images or videos that show to your audience passively as they browse websites. Display’s outlook for 2023 and beyond looks very promising, as it has grown to take up over 21% of global advertising in 2022.

To start, you can place an image ad on a relevant website that your audience may frequent, or have your video ad play alongside content on YouTube. This helps you tap into your audience even when they might not necessarily be searching for you.

In fact, running display and search ads together works like a charm. Your display ads can spark awareness—triggering your audience to look for your search ads on the SERP later. You can even measure the effectiveness of display and search together through a metric called view-through conversions. (Find out more marketing metrics you need to know and track here!)

Tips for display ad:

  • Get creative with your targeting. Display ads have a plethora of audience targeting options, like remarketing to your website viewers or showing to folks of certain interests or lifestyles. You can have fun by imagining what your ideal customer’s daily life is like and choosing your targeting based on that.
  • Leverage unique placements. With display, you can show across apps, selected websites, and more. Be sure to choose a variety of placements across devices to maximize your results.
  • Start small, then go big! Display historically has a cheaper cost-per-click than other channels. This gives you the chance to start off with a small budget while you test what works, then build up from there.

marketing channels - example of display ads on news website

An example of display ads shown on a news site.

10. OTT ads

This hot marketing channel is sure to be a hit in 2023 since OTT (over-the-top) streaming has increased by 115% in 2021 compared to previous years. In contrast to display and search ads, OTT ads use different pathways to show paid video ads.

With OTT your video ads could appear on apps like Hulu, Google Play, and more.

OTT ads instill brand awareness and spark searches for your business later which can result in conversions. Plus, OTT helps you reach beyond the SERP or social media to find people you may have otherwise missed.

OTT tips:

  • Know your audience. Identify the personas you’re trying to target with your video ads and be sure to focus your ads on what would appeal to them.
  • Market with emotion. Think about what your target audience might react to best—whether that be a funny skit, a heartfelt moment, or a suspenseful action scene.
  • Run tests. Frequently testing your video ads to see what your viewers are the most receptive to is your best bet for finding your OTT “secret sauce.”

marketing channels - ott advertising chart

Source

11. Affiliate marketing

With affiliate marketing, you’re letting someone else do the hard work of selling your product or offering. Essentially, you offer a financial incentive for a third-party seller to promote your business for you. For example, if a customer purchases your product or service through an affiliate link, that affiliate would earn a commission. This can be an especially powerful marketing channel for businesses that don’t yet have a lot of reach or brand awareness. Instead, you’re leveraging the credibility and resources your affiliate has to help grow your business.

Affiliate marketing tips: 

  • Run a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis requires you to evaluate your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. With this exercise, you can find out where your business may be lacking, and find an affiliate that fills that gap.
  • Create a checklist to quickly vet potential affiliates. A strong affiliate has a clear online presence that matches or complements your brand. For example, you may want to consider the following factors when choosing an affiliate:
    • Do they already have a platform, such as a blog or a website, with quality content?
    • Are they authentic when communicating with audience members online?
    • Is their online presence professional, and does it align with your brand position?
    • Do they have a large or engaged social media following?
    • Is the affiliate ranking high for keywords connected to your products or services?

swot analysis graphic from wordstream

12. Influencer marketing

Although influencer marketing has been around for a couple of years now, it won’t be going away any time soon. In fact, 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations from social media.

When you leverage influencer marketing, you’re tapping into someone’s larger following by having them recommend you on their social pages or blog sites.

Most businesses tend to shy away from influencer marketing because they picture a celebrity with millions of followers charging them hundreds of thousands of dollars per post. On the contrary, using micro-influencers that have a lower price per post and a niche following can bring just as effective, if not better, results.

Influencer marketing tips:

  • Scout out an array of potential micro-influencers. You may need to reach out to a few accounts before you score a solid partnership. To start, find micro-influencers that fall in line with your industry and have like-minded customers within your target audience following them.
  • Draft your pitches ahead of time. To save time, draft up a few different pitches for when you direct message or email micro-influencers. If one pitch doesn’t work, you’ll have another on hand to try instead.
  • Brainstorm content ideas. Your micro-influencers will be relieved to know you already have a caption, image, or video script in mind. That way, you can control the quality of their shoutout while also saving them time.

marketing channels - instagram influencer marketing example

Source

Even more marketing channels to try

Think of these next few marketing channels as a “choose your own adventure challenge.” You could try any of these channels with little to no budget, or put more money towards them depending on your business’s unique needs.

13. Email marketing

In 2023 and beyond, email as a marketing channel will continue to be a major revenue driver for small businesses. That’s because, back in 2021, there were over 4 billion daily email users, and 64% of small businesses already use email marketing to reach customers. Those numbers have only continued to climb since then. So you won’t want to miss out on the benefits email marketing can bring to your business in the coming year.

Email marketing tips:

  • Keep your email subject lines concise. When crafting your email copy, be sure to keep your subject lines short and eye-catching.
  • Remember the purpose of each email. You’ll also want to have a goal in mind for each email you send to make it clear to your recipients you want them to complete a specific action.
  • Automate when you can. If you don’t have the time to collect emails and send them out manually, you can use online tools to help you pre-plan your email marketing campaigns. That way, you can set up your email marketing to run consistently on the back burner while you focus on other marketing channels.

14. Mobile marketing

Mobile marketing is a must-have marketing channel for any business because of the sheer numbers behind mobile usage. Check out these mobile marketing statistics:

  • By 2023, the number of smartphone users worldwide is projected to reach 4.3 billion.
  • Clicks coming from mobile devices cost 24% less than those coming from desktop experience.
  • 70% of smartphone users have made a purchase after using their phone to discover information.

To try out mobile marketing, you’ll first want to ensure you have an easy-to-navigate, responsive website that is mobile-friendly. From there, the mobile world is your oyster as you connect with your audience in a trendy new way!

Mobile marketing tips:

  • Try geofencing. Geofencing allows you to target mobile-specific ads to people within a selected location—ensuring you only spend when it counts.
  • Make sure your website copy is concise. Aside from checking your website’s technical compatibility with mobile devices, you’ll also want to remember your audience is working with a smaller screen when writing your web content.
  • Run SMS campaigns. 64% of consumers think companies who text value their time, are progressive, and would recommend them. Encourage your customers to sign up for texts to get exclusive information from your business.

marketing channels - mobile marketing

An example of SMS marketing.

15. Audio and podcast marketing

Nearly 60% of people agree audio is more engaging than other forms of content. Don’t just get eyes on your content, get ears on them too. The emergence of audio across marketing channels in recent years has brought to light the endless audio capabilities businesses now have.

For example, 55% of the U.S. population aged 12 and above listen to podcasts. There is a podcast for just about every niche market out there, so see if you can place an ad for your business on a popular, fitting podcast. Or, start your own podcast to build your brand’s community!

Another way audio has crept into the marketing world is through social media. Many platforms now offer ways to foster communities through virtual chat rooms with designated speakers and listeners. For example, Twitter introduced Twitter Spaces as well as voice tweets. With Twitter Spaces, folks can listen and chat with others about hot topics. Voice tweets are audio clips followers can playback.

By using these platforms, you can discuss your brand while also connecting with your audience.

Audio marketing tips:

  • Write scripts. There’s nothing wrong with preplanning what you will say in your audio content. Writing a script or even loose notes ahead of time can save you from slip-ups if your audio content is being recorded live.
  • Promote your audio clips on other marketing channels. What’s audio content without listeners? Be sure to draw attention to your audio marketing so people know to keep an ear out for it.
  • Practice makes perfect. If your audio efforts don’t take off right away, don’t give up! Keep practicing and putting out audio content, as it will take time to build up a loyal listener base.

marketing channels - screenshot of a twitter space

Source

16. Artificial Intelligence

The forecasted AI growth rate between 2020 and 2027 is 33.2%. Talk about a trendy marketing channel!

A plethora of AI marketing capabilities has become accessible to all businesses just this past year. AI (artificial intelligence) in marketing uses machine learning based on large sets of data to do tasks for us like:

  • Content creation and curation
  • Product or search recommendations
  • Ad targeting
  • Website chatbots
  • Marketing automation
  • And much more!

Trying AI marketing in 2023 could help your business stand out by conveniently connecting with your customers from the comfort of their own homes (or wherever they may be in the world).

AI marketing tips:

  • Try rolling out VR experiences. For example, you can use AI to create VR (virtual reality) ads that might let them try on clothing items, view a venue, or take a test drive completely virtually.
  • Use AI as a time-saving tool. Using AI for tactics like data collection and analysis will take tasks off your plate.
  • Proceed with caution. AI is constantly changing. To avoid any glitches, don’t implement any strategies you haven’t yet tested or gotten comfortable with first.

marketing channels - an example of using ai as a marketing channel for retail

Image source

17. Marketing with website chat

92% of customers feel satisfied with their experience after using live chat, so don’t miss out on this easy website win this year! Adding live chat can work as a bonus marketing channel because it can make suggestions to customers. For example, your chatbot could promote a new product or offer users an exclusive deal.

Live chat tips:

  • Provide options. Be sure your prompts not only include marketing mentions but also have plenty of options for the various needs your web visitors may have.
  • Personalize your bot. Adding a bit of personality to your live chat experience will make your customers’ chat more enjoyable.
  • Run quality checks early on. Be sure to run tests and check that all of your chat’s responses make sense before a customer gets caught up in a nonsensical chat.

marketing channels - example of live chat

Source

18. Print advertising

Although print advertising is a bit more of an “old-school” marketing channel, it’s still a lucrative strategy for many businesses. Print advertising includes tactics like direct mail, advertisements in publications such as newspapers or magazines, flyers, and more.

Print advertising tips:

  • Solidify your creative strategy. Print advertising is all about the visuals you create to pop on your viewer’s page. Plus, your print ad may end up in various different placements, so you’ll need imagery that can flex to many different sizes.
  • Source print advertising inspiration from your competitors. Print advertising may feel a bit different from the digital marketing channels you may be used to doing. To get a feel for what’s going on in your print advertising market, check out some print ad examples to see what strategies might be most effective for your business.

19. TV and radio

We can’t do a marketing channels roundup without a nod to traditional marketing channels like TV and radio. While digital marketing channels should primarily be your focus, TV and radio can help supplement any other online and offline promotions you may be running.

Tips for TV, radio, and similar traditional marketing channels:

  • Use your OTT ads as material for TV ads. Since TV commercials and OTT ads are so similar, you can knock out two marketing channels at once if you use the same video ads across both platforms.
  • Remember the rule of seven. A common mistake with traditional marketing channels is worrying that you’ll overtire your audience. It’s been proven that people need to see or hear something at least seven times in order to recall it later. Try running your traditional marketing channels for a longer period of time than you might with other channels so you can ensure you’re promoting your business as much as possible.

Start off on the right foot with the right marketing channels

Make this year your year to thrive. With so many easy marketing channels to choose from, there’s no reason not to! To recap, here are our top recommended marketing channels for small businesses:

  1. Local SEO
  2. Local listings and online reputation management
  3. Organic social media marketing
  4. Word-of-mouth marketing
  5. Networking and partnerships
  6. Event marketing
  7. Social media advertising
  8. Search advertising
  9. Display ads
  10. OTT ads
  11. Affiliate marketing
  12. Influencer marketing
  13. Email marketing
  14. Mobile marketing
  15. Audio and podcast marketing
  16. Artificial intelligence
  17. Marketing with website chat
  18. Print advertising
  19. TV and radio



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How to Make a Click-Worthy YouTube Thumbnail (+Free Tools!)

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How to Make a Click-Worthy YouTube Thumbnail (+Free Tools!)

With millions of videos vying for attention, your YouTube thumbnails serve as the first point of engagement for potential viewers. These seemingly small images carry significant weight in attracting clicks and views.

YouTube thumbnails provide a snapshot of your video content, setting expectations for what viewers can expect. A well-crafted thumbnail not only piques interest but also conveys the essence of the video.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about YouTube thumbnails, including tools to create them, tips to keep in mind, and other lessons I’ve learned from running my own YouTube channel.

Table of contents

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail serves as a visual snapshot of what a video contains. It appears as a small image next to the title of the video on YouTube’s search results page, related videos section, or the recommended videos section.

youtube thumbnail examples on youtube results page

This image plays a crucial role in attracting potential viewers and encouraging them to click on the video. The design and content of this thumbnail often influence the decision of a viewer to watch the video or not. Therefore, it holds significant importance in the world of YouTube content creation.

YouTube thumbnail size

The best YouTube thumbnail size is 1280×720 pixels. This is an aspect ratio of 16:9. The minimum width you should shoot for is 640 pixels.

You should also shoot for a relatively small file size—under 2MB. YouTube thumbnails can be saved as JPGs, GIFs, or PNGs.

YouTube thumbnail tips

Your YouTube journey begins with a single image—the thumbnail. This seemingly small, but critically important element is the initial gateway for your viewers.

“If people don’t click, they don’t watch. So, you want to give them something to click,” said YouTube star MrBeast.

Here are some tips to create effective YouTube thumbnails.

Make them engaging

Think of your thumbnails as digital hooks to capture your audience’s attention. Make them visually striking, vibrant, and engaging.

💕 Want more tips and ideas? We’ve got 130+ for you! Get the guide >> 130+ of the Best Online Marketing Tips for Generating More Traffic, Leads, & Sales

Be consistent

Building a recognizable brand on YouTube starts with consistency in your thumbnail design. A uniform style helps viewers easily identify your content. In addition to consistency in your thumbnail design, keeping a close eye on others in your field who share your audience is a smart strategy.

Checking out what your competitors are up to can give you helpful clues about how many people click on their stuff. This helps you see how your channel’s look, content, titles, and colors stack up, so you can ensure you’re putting your best foot forward.

As you can see below, MrBeast’s thumbnails are visually striking and attention-grabbing, featuring bold colors, expressive facial expressions, and compelling imagery. He maintains a consistent style in his thumbnails, making them instantly recognizable to his viewers and helping build a strong brand presence on YouTube.

youtube thumbnail examples from mrbeast youtube channel youtube thumbnail examples from mrbeast youtube channel

Represent your video accurately

Your thumbnail should provide an honest representation of your video. Misleading thumbnails can lead to viewer frustration and backlash.

Create an emotional impact

It’s well known that emotions are contagious. This means that watching someone else have an emotional reaction to something can cause you to have the same reaction.

Humans react to other human faces, and it’s an easy trick to get more people to click on your YouTube videos. Humans will naturally assess the emotional state of the face. When their mouth is open, it’s usually to show that they are surprised. When someone sees this surprised reaction, they are enticed to see what is so surprising.

🚨 Speaking of emotion…get our free guide >> 135 of the Best Words & Phrases for Marketing with Emotion

Learn and adapt

Continuously analyze your analytics to adapt your content and strategy based on audience feedback and changing trends.

The thumbnail below was my first to go well (in relation to my other videos). The simple title in the thumbnail, the upward arrow, society’s current fascination with ChatGPT, the length of the video, me in it—smiling and wearing something that matched the color scheme of the thumbnail. These are things I took note of as potential drivers of success for future videos and thumbnails.

youtube thumbnail ab test example winneryoutube thumbnail ab test example winner

Source

Free YouTube thumbnail makers

Here are a few YouTube thumbnail creation tools to try, including the one I use for all my thumbnails.

1. Fotor

I use an app called Fotor to create my thumbnails. Fotor is a fantastic all-in-one platform that makes thumbnail creation a breeze. It’s an easy-to-use photo editing and graphic design tool, available in web, desktop, and mobile versions. It provides a full suite of tools that cover most image editing needs, including face retouching and image-generative AI.

fotor youtube thumbnail makerfotor youtube thumbnail maker

Fotor also includes advanced AI-powered tools such as background remover, image enlarger, and object remover, which make complex edits simple.

I created a super simple video walkthrough where I use it to create a YouTube thumbnail. Check it out here.

2. Canva

Canva is a design tool (with a free option) that can help you create impactful YouTube thumbnails. Simply navigate to the site, choose YouTube thumbnail as your design option, and find an already-created template to customize or create your own design.

youtube thumbnail maker from canvayoutube thumbnail maker from canva

Within Canva, you can adjust colors, add your own images, and brand your YouTube thumbnail with your business logo.

3. Visme

Visme is another online design tool that makes it easy to create YouTube thumbnails. Like Canva, Visme has already created templates that you can choose and customize according to your branding.

youtube thumbnail maker vismeyoutube thumbnail maker visme

Simply choose your template, customize it, download it, and you’re all set!

Start making effective YouTube thumbnails with ease

Creating a great YouTube thumbnail is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to effective video marketing on the site. But the right YouTube thumbnail strategy can help you build consistency, attract people to click on your videos, and increase engagement with your content.

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12 Holiday Emails for Customers (Templates & Examples!)

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12 Holiday Emails for Customers (Templates & Examples!)

How to put your customers into a holiday slumber 😴 :

To our valued customers,

As the end of the year draws near, we’d like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for your support. Thank you for choosing us and we wish you a wonderful holiday season and happy new year!

sleepy bored face

Want to send an authentic holiday email this year that your customers will actually want to read? This is your cheat sheet!

Table of contents

How to use these holiday email templates

This post contains both the copy and creative you can use for your holiday customer appreciation emails. These emails are longer and more personalized—great for your most loyal customers or for businesses with a small client base. If you want shorter, more general copy, head on over to my holiday greetings and messages.

The copy is also pasted into some templates I made in Canva, which you can access with a free Canva account!

Here’s the link to the templates in Canva.

free holiday email templates in canvafree holiday email templates in canva

Holiday customer email tips

In such a short piece of content as this, small details have big effects. Here’s how to get it right.

  • Express gratitude! Customer appreciation is the goal here.
  • Keep it short and use a conversational tone. This is an e-toast, not a live journal.
  • Be inclusive of all holidays, and be warm and positive, but not overly hyped—the holidays can be difficult for many people.
  • Make it visual with creative graphics or a team photo.
  • Share your growth and achievements to give customers a reason to stay confident in your business. BUT make it about them—the growth you achieved with their support. What you achieved together.
  • Connect it back to your mission (NOT your value prop).
  • Focus on the future. Speak to an ongoing relationship, but not through a CTA or sales promotion. Save that for your year-in-review email.

Words & phrases to make your holiday email message authentic

Take a gander through these words and phrases you can use that the other gajillion businesses out there aren’t using:

Instead of ‘valued customer’

Don’t call them valued, make them FEEL valued through your messaging.

  • Dear customers
  • To our awesome customers
  • To our customers near and far, old and new
  • To all of you
  • To each and every one of you
  • To the Baker & Co. family
  • To the SparkLife community
  • To you and your families
  • Dear customers, partners, and your families
  • Friends
  • First name (if you have a small list and can MANUALLY do it).

Instead of ‘exciting year’

It’s been a…

  • Lively
  • Rewarding
  • Exhilarating
  • Electrifying
  • Wild
  • Awesome
  • Zestful
  • Refreshing
  • Bustling
  • Bright
  • Spirited
  • Rousing
  • Rigorous

….year!

Instead of ‘as we approach’

Any “as we.” As we approach, enter, wind down, you know them all. How about:

  • Every year, I/we
  • If you’re like us, you are…
  • As the saying goes…
  • One of my favorite quotes is
  • Ask a question
  • Whether this email finds you ___ing, ____ing, or ___ing, we hope it finds you well!
  • As I sit here listening to [unique/meaningful/inclusive song name]
  • Exactly 11 months ago, we were…..
  • When we started out this year we _____. Little did we know…
  • Here at ___ we believe in ____, so…
  • One of our core values here at ____ is ____.
  • As I write this email, I’m watching the snow falling outside my window for the first time this year.
  • As it turns out…

Instead of ‘take this opportunity to’

Take THIS opportunity to remove yourselves from the mileu by using phrases like:

  • Words can’t describe our…
  • We’re reaching out to say…
  • We want you to know that…
  • We extend our deepest…
  • It is with pride and joy that we…

Instead of ‘thank you for your support’

Nothing wrong with this statement, but make it better with specifics.

Thank you for…

  • Trusting us with your ____
  • Using ____ for your ____ needs.
  • Confidence and loyalty to _____
  • How much you’ve [taught us, inspired us, encouraged us, etc..]
  • Choosing us as your ____ provider
  • Giving us a reason to come into work each day
  • Showing up to our events
  • Your reviews, social shares, votes
  • Positive vibes, enthusiasm

5 holiday email templates any business can use

To make your life easier, I’ve compiled some templates that incorporate the tips and words and phrases above. Check’em out.

If you want to You can also customize them in Canva

Template #1—Achievement-focused

To our customers:

Without your enthusiasm and energy, we wouldn’t be where we are now.

Thanks to your feedback, we added eight new features to ProductName this year and earned our highest rating on ReviewPlatform yet. And because of your referrals, we helped twice as many small businesses get online this year than last. And because of you, we love our jobs!

Not only are we excited for 2022 with you, but we also have some big goals and big ideas that we can’t wait to share. So stay tuned! But for now, enjoy the holiday season!

With many thanks,

The ProductName Team

holiday email templates to customers - snowflake themeholiday email templates to customers - snowflake theme

Use the Canva link above to customize this template.

Template #2—Fun & grateful

To the BusinessName community,

As the saying goes, “Gratitude is like gravy—put it on everything!” So we pour out our thanks to you for choosing BusinessName as your PainPointSolver.

Your patronage, your presence, your reviews and shares—all of this keeps our business alive and makes our line of work a pleasure each day.

We wish you all the best this holiday season and look forward to another great year with you!

With thanks,

All of us here at BusinessName

holiday email template - happy holidays navy themeholiday email template - happy holidays navy theme

Use the Canva link above to customize this template.

 

Looking for more creative ideas? How about these 41 Pre-made Holiday Social Media Posts & Canva Templates.

Template #3—From the owner

To each and every one of you,

As I sit here listening to InclusiveMeaningfulSong, I am reminded of how grateful I am to have you in my circle.

StudioName is rooted in relationships, health, and growth and you are the ones who bring it to life. Every day I am blessed with the new energy, new perspectives, and new friends you bring to our studio each day.

I wish all the blessings returned to you during this holiday season and the year to come. Can’t wait to grow with you in 2022!

See you soon,

YourName

holiday email templates to customers - wrapping paper themedholiday email templates to customers - wrapping paper themed

Use the Canva link above to customize this template.

Template #4—Mission-centered

To our work out warriors,

Whether the holidays make you happy or sad, giddy or stressed, one thing we can all feel is gratitude.

And that is why we extend our personal thanks to you—for showing up, for trusting us with your health, for your smiling faces, and your feedback.

We are on a mission to make fitness fun and accessible to all and it is dedicated members like you who help us make this possible.

However you’re feeling this holiday season, know that we appreciate you and we can’t wait to see you next year.

Stay well,

The GymName Team

holiday email template - mission-focused themeholiday email template - mission-focused theme

Use the Canva link above to customize this template.

Template #5—Wrap-up with thank you

So…how do you wrap up a fantastic year in X words? We figured it out:

  • 32,695 orders
  • 200 blog posts
  • 84 five-star reviews
  • 5 new employees
  • 2 awards nominations
  • 1 HUGE thanks…

To YOU!

None of this would be possible without all of your shares, likes, comments, and confidence in our resources. This is what keeps us eager to find new things to teach you each day. You are the lifeblood of BusinessName and together, we’re helping more and more people find jobs they love.

Thank you for playing such a pivotal role in our growth. We wish you the best this holiday season and the year to come.

Let’s do it all again next year!

 

The BusinessName Team

holiday email templates to customers - seasons greetings red themeholiday email templates to customers - seasons greetings red theme

Use the Canva link above to customize this template.

7 real holiday email examples & what makes them great

Here are a few real holiday customer appreciation email examples with non-generic intro sentences and attractive design. And you may also want to check out these additional customer appreciation ideas!

Patchwork: A poem!

You can have a lot of fun with this one!

  • Big thanks
  • Lots of text but once you start, you can’t stop.
  • Visually appealing—although a face would be nice.

 

thank you holiday email example - poemthank you holiday email example - poem

Rock Content: Tasteful reminder

This short and sweet holiday email from Rock Content is perfect with:

  • Friendly and warm messaging acknowledging my hard work this year.
  • A cute GIF of champaign glasses clanking.
  • A tasteful reminder of the value it offers at the end.

 

holiday email example from rock contentholiday email example from rock content

Hello, Kristen!

✨We are passing by to wish you Happy Holidays!

2022 has been a year full of challenges and achievements. We know you’ve worked a lot this year. Now, it’s time to relax a bit and enjoy the holidays!

We hope you have a great time with friends and family. Enjoy the next few days to recharge your batteries with good times, getting ready to make beautiful things happen in 2023!

Remember that we will always be here to help you deliver high-quality content strategies and enable growth opportunities!

Enjoy the Holiday Season!

🎄🎅🎁☃️❄️

Rock Content Team.

BuildOn: Super-specific

Consider something like this if you’re a nonprofit.

  • Just the right amount of gratitude and inspiration
  • Visual with smiling face
  • Shares specific achievements made possible by YOU

 

holiday customer thank you email and message examplesholiday customer thank you email and message examples

Image source

This season, we’re thankful for your support!

With your help, buildOn has empowered thousands of students and strengthened hundreds of communities across the globe.

In the U.S., tens of thousands of urban students have invested nearly 1.4 million hours of service into transforming their communities and empowering themselves. Today, 674 schools are bringing quality education and a chance out of poverty to 90,000 children and adults in the developing world.

None of this would be possible without you. THANK YOU!

WE: Verrry versatile

WE has some inspo in store for you.

  • Positive without overdoing it
  • Conversational and inclusive messaging
  • Attractive visual, although a face would be nice
  • Sincere appreciation, could use some specifics

 

end of year customer appreciation email example - nonprofitend of year customer appreciation email example - nonprofit

Image source

“With the new year comes a sense of renewal: an opportunity to bring out the best in ourselves, moving forward with positivity and purpose. Thank you for being part of the WE Movement this year—whether you’ve been with us every step of the way or have just joined, we truly appreciate having you in our community.

Together, we change the world.”

Office Luv: Faces!

Office Luv nails it.

  • Actual employee faces!
  • Short and sweet
  • No “we’d like to take this opportunity to..”

 

end of year thank you email to customers - office luv exampleend of year thank you email to customers - office luv example

Later: Future-focused

The thank you section of Later’s 2020 December newsletter is one to model after.

  • Conversational tone, with emojis
  • Specific thank yous
  • Future-focused
  • Has a CTA, but just to Instagram profile

 

Later's holiday customer appreciation email exampleLater's holiday customer appreciation email example
2020 has been full of challenges in the social media world and beyond, and we wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you. <3

Thanks for turning up, reading our emails, joining the conversation, sharing the love on social – you’ve made all of our days a little brighter this year.

We promise 2021 is going to be bigger and better than ever – so stay tuned for more new blogs, training, and of course, exciting new Later features!

[Stay tuned]

Chiropractor: Super-personalized

Try out something like this if you’re a solopreneur.

  • First name personalization
  • Inclusive graphic and smiling face
  • Fun poem
  • Sense of community
  • Sincere thanks

 

holiday customer appreciation email exampleholiday customer appreciation email example
Happy Holidays Kristen!

I know by this point everyone is nestled in and hopefully enjoying friends, families, and holiday cheer! Yet I didn’t want this season to go by without an official Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

We count you among our friends and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your dedication to your health and in creating your healthy home and life. It means more to us than you know, so thank you!

Wishing you joy and peace,

Dr. Lizie

Send a holiday email this year that your customers will appreciate

You now have all the words, phrases, tips, and templates you need to send an authentic holiday email message to your customers. You have no excuses!

Want more holiday messaging templates?

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8 Super-Helpful AI Features in Google Ads

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8 Super-Helpful AI Features in Google Ads

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a buzzword in society, particularly with the widespread attention garnered by advanced AI platforms like ChatGPT in recent years. However, even before AI became a household term, it was already embedded in the fabric of digital marketing strategies through platforms like Google Ads.

Google has been a pioneer in harnessing AI to transform the advertising landscape, leveraging machine learning and automation to help businesses optimize their online presence and advertising performance.

In this article, we’ll explore helpful Google Ads AI features that can help you enhance your outcomes, forge stronger customer relationships, and deepen your marketing know-how.

Let’s delve into how these Google Ads AI features are purpose-built to amplify your success:

  1. AI-driven search campaigns
  2. Performance Max AI features
  3. Automatically created assets
  4. Conversational Experience in Google Ads
  5. Google Analytics 4 measurement enhancements
  6. Optimized targeting
  7. YouTube AI-powered creative tools
  8. App campaigns

AI features in Google Ads

Let’s take a closer look at the essential offerings that seamlessly incorporate AI to elevate your Google Ads experience.

1. AI-driven search campaigns

Leveraging the sophistication of machine learning, AI-driven search campaigns are now smarter than ever, fine-tuning bidding strategies, broadening match types, and honing ad relevance with incredible precision as it happens. This evolution means your targeting is not just effective—it’s strategic, maximizing your investment returns.

Over the years, the capabilities of broad match have significantly advanced, allowing you to refine your search ads campaigns further. By pairing broad match keywords with Smart Bidding and responsive search ads, you’re not just casting a wider net but also capturing a plethora of conversion opportunities that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks, thereby unlocking new avenues for ROI.

ai-enabled search campaigns in google ads

🛑 Want to improve your Google Ads results? Find out where to focus with a free, instant audit >> Google Ads Performance Grader

2. Performance Max AI features

By now, most digital marketers are familiar with Performance Max, a crucial tool in Google’s advertising suite. But are you fully aware of all its AI-driven features?

Performance Max stands apart for its ability to leverage the extensive range of Google’s advertising channels and resources, going beyond traditional search terms to identify opportunities for high returns on investment.

It’s engineered not just for broadening reach but for diving deep into previously unexplored audience segments and conversion opportunities.

google ads ai features in performance max campaignsgoogle ads ai features in performance max campaigns

At its core, Performance Max harnesses Google’s vast data resources to unearth potential customers who might otherwise remain hidden, tapping into new market segments and user interests. This capability is powered by sophisticated AI signals and machine learning, which analyze user behavior, preferences, and trends across the internet, offering a more nuanced and effective approach to targeted advertising.

3. Automatically created assets

This tool is a standout for enhancing search ad relevance. It crafts headlines and descriptions based on your ad’s context, like the landing page and existing ads, improving Ad Strength. Supporting multiple languages and soon integrating generative AI in the US and UK, it offers even more tailored content.

google ads ai automatically created assets examplegoogle ads ai automatically created assets example

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4. Conversational Experience in Google Ads

Engage in natural language conversations with Google Ads to create effective keywords and assets. Just input your website URL, and the AI suggests campaign elements, which you can modify. In beta testing for English in the US and UK, it’s a significant time-saver and a source of creative inspiration.

⚡️ Is your Google Ads account set up for success? Download now >> The Last Guide to Google Ads Account Structure You’ll Ever Need

5. Google Analytics 4 measurement enhancements

Incorporating AI, Google Analytics 4 stands as a robust measurement tool that can automatically extract insights and anticipate future consumer trends. This predictive ability is particularly valuable for advertisers looking to refine their campaigns for optimal performance and gain a more nuanced understanding of their consumer base.

To illustrate this, I’ve crafted a video detailing how reports within GA4 can effectively integrate purchase data and revenue predictions.

google ads ai features using google analytics 4 for revenue predictiongoogle ads ai features using google analytics 4 for revenue prediction

This resource is designed to empower advertisers with the knowledge to leverage GA4’s advanced reporting features to their fullest potential, ensuring that every campaign is backed by data-driven strategies and a clear view of expected financial outcomes.

6. Optimized targeting

Optimized targeting with AI represents a leap forward in audience solutions. It doesn’t just work with the top audiences you already know; it also harnesses signals from across Google’s entire ecosystem to direct you to new, relevant customers. These customers are selected based on their likelihood to convert, aligning with your specific campaign objectives.

Your understanding of your customer base and their value is crucial—it guides the AI to make smarter, more relevant matches. When you blend this understanding with Google’s AI capabilities, you’re not just expanding your reach; you’re also fine-tuning it for relevance, which can significantly enhance your ROI.

This synergy between your insights and Google’s technology paves the way for more efficient campaigns that don’t just aim for reach but aim for the right kind of reach.

7. YouTube AI-powered creative tools

AI-powered creative tools on platforms like YouTube are revolutionizing the way video ads are created and enhanced. This is especially relevant given the diverse ways audiences consume content. Whether it’s scrolling through Shorts, watching the latest drop from a favorite creator on the TV screen, catching an upcoming NFL game, or tuning into live events like the Oscars, YouTube is where the world watches.

In this landscape of varied viewer habits, connecting with audiences on YouTube is easier than ever. Using AI-driven tools, you can generate engaging video ads or enhance existing ones with options like trimming, flipping, and adding voiceovers. These features ensure your ads are not only high-quality but also perfectly tailored to match the viewing preferences of your audience.

google ads ai features in youtube ads for voiceovergoogle ads ai features in youtube ads for voiceover

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You can also launch targeted video campaigns tailored to your specific goals. For instance, Video reach campaigns are great for building awareness, Video view campaigns are designed for driving consideration, and Video action campaigns are aimed at prompting action. This strategic approach, using AI-powered tools and campaign types, helps you not only reach your audience on YouTube but engage with them in the most effective and relevant ways, regardless of how they interact with the platform’s diverse content.

8. App campaigns

App campaigns, specifically tailored for mobile applications, utilize AI to streamline the promotion of apps across Google’s most prominent channels within a single campaign. They are adept at identifying and retaining high-value app users, as well as re-engaging those who already use your app.

Whether you’re marketing a retail app or rolling out a new game, App campaigns are your go-to strategy for connecting with the most valuable users. By simply setting your goals, these campaigns leverage the full might of Google AI to effectively promote your app across vast channels, all from one consolidated campaign effort.

To take this further, consider trying AI-powered solutions like App campaigns for engagement and tROAS (Target Return On Ad Spend) for ad revenue. These tools are excellent for re-engaging existing customers and exploring new avenues to grow revenue. They represent the cutting edge in digital advertising technology, enabling you to maximize both reach and profitability with unprecedented ease and efficiency.

Find the right Google Ads AI-powered feature for your business

In conclusion, the integration of AI in Google Ads represents a significant advancement for digital marketers. It multiplies your expertise, allowing you to augment your creativity and knowledge with powerful, data-driven insights.

This technology enables you to market faster and more effectively, meeting customers precisely where they are, even in the most unpredictable scenarios. Most importantly, it drives reliable and strong ROI, unlocking new avenues for growth.

By leveraging AI in your Google Ads campaigns, you’re not just keeping pace with the digital marketing landscape; you’re setting the bar higher, transforming challenges into opportunities for success and growth.

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