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How to Become a Content Creator in 7 Steps (Tested & Proven!)

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How to Become a Content Creator in 7 Steps (Tested & Proven!)

Content is everywhere! There seems to be a never-ending need for it. That’s one of the reasons I left a cushy sales job 10 years ago to become a full-time content creator.

But what do content creators actually do? (Hint: we don’t just post memes all day.)

Irony

Let me give you a behind-the-scenes look at what content creators do, what a content creator salary looks like, and how you can become a content creator.

This article is for anyone wanting to become a content creator, businesses who want to add more content to their marketing, and people looking to hire content creators.

Let’s get into it.

Table of contents

What is a content creator?

A content creator ideates and produces various forms of content that generate revenue for themselves or for an organization. The content can be published across any channel or medium from social media to websites to print publications.

content creator - screenshot of Wendy's post

The truth is, anyone who posts a cute puppy picture on Instagram is a content creator. And content can be things like feature films or fiction novels. But what we’re talking about in this article is digital content used specifically to help businesses get more leads and customers. In other words, it’s content used as part of a marketing strategy.

Where content creators work

Digital content creators work in one of three scenarios:

  • Freelance: Self-employed, does work for several organizations
  • In-house: A direct company employee (that’s me!)
  • Agency: A direct employee of a marketing agency

Freelancers tend to have more flexibility but less security as they have to source their own gigs. In-house content creators have consistent work and pay but have a stricter work environment. Agency creators usually get a wide variety of work but have less influence on strategy and workflows.

Types of content creators

A content creator’s to-do list varies wildly between types of creators. And the line between them gets blurry; an influencer creating TikToks is also a videographer.

I’ve kept it simple by listing the most common types of content creators so you can see how each one operates.

Influencers and brand ambassadors

Influencers and brand ambassadors grow their own following on social media channels and make money by recommending or selling things to their audience.

In many cases, brands pay influencers to show off their products.

content creator - screenshot of an influencer's post

You don’t need millions of people following your account to be an influencer. Some brands prefer to work with nano influencers with just a few thousand followers.

Some influencers also sell their own products. Khloe Kardashian with her Good American brand is a perfect example.

content creator - Khloe Kardashian post

If you’re interested in being an influencer, you’re getting in at a good time. The influencer marketing market is growing and is expected to reach $21 billion in 2023. That’s a big pie you could take a bite out of—you’re just going to be vying for attention with thousands of others.

Social media content creators and managers

This version of a content creator plans and produces social media content for a brand. They often manage the brand’s social media accounts, too.

Social media managers are jacks of many trades. They may capture images and videos, write captions, manage publishing calendars, and plan campaigns. There’s usually some component of social listening to understand what the brand’s reputation is online. On top of that, social media managers also track and report metrics.

Zaria Parvez is a great person to follow if you want to get into this type of work. She manages the social accounts for the language learning app Duolingo.

Content creator - duolingo post

Parvez regularly posts everything from product demos to dance challenges across several platforms for the brand.

Vloggers and streamers

Vloggers and streamers are similar to influencers in that they grow their own audience and leverage it for brand deals or to sell their own products online.

The big difference here is the mediums in which they work.

Vloggers record video blogs they then post on a platform like YouTube. They may cover topics like their daily life or how to build things.

Justine Nelson hosts a Vlog called The Debt Free Millenial.

Content creator - screenshot of debt free millennial landing page

What’s great about Nelson’s vlog is that she’s found a niche based on a real-life concern and made it relevant to a specific audience.

Steamers share videos live on platforms like Twitch. People watch streamers play video games or open product boxes.

Pokimane is one of the most popular live streamers around with over 9 million followers on Twitch alone.

Content creator - Pokimane Twitch screen

If you’re going to become a streamer or vlogger, find something you’re truly passionate about. You’ll be creating a lot of content and if you don’t love it, it’ll get boring fast.

Photographers and videographers

In this category, we find professionals who capture either static or video images (or both!).

These professionals find loads of outlets for their work. They can create their own social channels, sell content to stock image websites, or work directly with brands and social media managers.

One lucrative offshoot (pun intended) of this profession is product photography. Ecommerce brands especially need high-quality imagery and video to feed their ever-growing catalogs and social media ads.

Content creator - ad for sunglasses on Instagram

Writers

Writers are absolutely the best category of content creators 😉. We cover a lot of ground for many mediums.

For example, professionally written copy shows up in:

  • Blog posts
  • Web pages
  • Email marketing
  • Video scripts
  • Brochures
  • E-books and white papers
  • Social media posts

Like other content creators, writers can work in-house, at an agency, or as a freelancer. There are many content writers who even earn a living writing for their own channels.

Ann Handley, for example, is a well-known business writer with her own blog, website, and email newsletter.

Content creator - Newsletter from Ann Handly

Handley is her own content marketer, using her digital channels to sell her books.

Podcasters

Podcasting has absolutely exploded. The average person now listens to seven hours of podcasts every week. Brands are cashing in on the attention paid to this medium by either advertising on podcasts or creating podcasts of their own.

Podcasts range from two-minute motivational talks to multi-hour history lessons. There are episodic pods where actors play out a story. And there are many informational podcasts covering every topic imaginable.

Professionals involved in podcast creation can be the host, the producer, the writer, or all of the above.

SEO 101 is a podcast that teaches the basics of search engine optimization.

Content creator - screenshot of podcaster SEO 101

The hosts both run their own agencies, so the pod does double duty. It generates advertising revenue directly and creates brand awareness for the hosts’ marketing businesses.

What’s a typical content creator salary in 2023?

We’ve all heard about the big dollars influencers pull down. MrBeast reportedly earns upwards of $10 million from his YouTube videos alone.

Content creator - screenshot of a Mrbeast social post

Source

While I certainly hope you reach that level of success, it’ll be good to know what the average content creator earns. Just in case you don’t get quite there.

As for freelance content creators, Glassdoor says they make over $53,000 per year on average. Remember that some people in this pool freelance as a side hustle, so their part-time pay would bring this average down.

If you’re an experienced freelance writer or videographer, you can typically expect to bring in about $35 to $100 for every hour of your time spent creating. I know several full-time freelancer content creators making six figures.

Zip Recruiter says the average salary for an in-house content creator is $115,733 per year. Indeed data says content writers make $20/hour on average.

Content creator - Screenshot of a graph from Ziprecruiter

In my experience, in-house content creator positions pay between $40,000 to $130,000 per year. Jobs that require more experience and higher-level activities like strategy land on the higher end of that spectrum.

Influencers can get paid from several sources. Brands pay when influencers tout their products. They may get a share of ad revenue from the social media platform. And many influencers get “paid” in the form of freebies, which is hard to put a salary tag on.

In most cases, influencers’ income increases with their follower count. According to Petal’s research, this is how much influencers at various audience thresholds can earn:

  • Micro: Influencers with < 10,000 followers make around $88 per post.
  • Mid-level: Influencers with 10,000 to 100,000 followers make about $200 per post.
  • Macro: Influencers with 100,000 to one million followers get an average of $670 per post.

How to become a content creator in 7 steps

Being a content creator is a great gig. You get to exercise your creativity and logic muscles. Plus it’s just really cool to see things you create out in the wild being experienced by other people.

If you’re interested in how to make the full or part-time jump to paid content creation, here are the seven actions I’d take.

1. Watch other creators

The first advice I was given when I asked how to become a professional writer was “read a lot.” For visual creators like social media influencers, I’d expand that and say “watch a lot.”

Pick three creators you admire and consume everything they put out. Luckily, we’re talking about a profession that’s public by nature (it’s not like we’re learning the spy trade).

You can do the same for specific topics. If you want to break into fitness content, follow a few fitness hashtags and look for themes across the most successful content.

Content creator - screenshot of search results on YouTube

Notice the details like how often and when they post. What they use for thumbnails. And what topics they talk about.

Then try to guess their strategy. How do you think they’d define their audience? And can you tell how they repurpose content?

The more you learn, the more you’ll notice, then the more you’ll learn.

2. Join public creator groups

There are all sorts of public creator groups on networks like Facebook and Slack.

I could list a dozen such groups here, but the way I find them is to Google “groups for [creator type] on [channel].” So if I want to connect with other content marketers, I’d search “groups for content marketers on Slack” and see what comes up.

Content creator - screenshot of a Google search for groups

Once you’ve joined and are comfortable with the group’s rules, jump in and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to answer questions, too. Even if you’re new, you still have ideas.

3. Learn the skills

This is where you put in the—sometimes frustrating—work. The good news is that many companies offer free resources.

Go to the website of any tool you’d use (like Canva if you’re into design). Most of these companies want you to learn the trade so you use their products.

Content creator - screenshot of canva education page

If you’re leaning towards content marketing and marketing in general, we have tons of free resources about writing on our blog.

Social media platforms and search engines also have educational guides. Google, Meta (a.k.a. Facebook and Instagram), and TikTok all have creator resources.

4. Create, create, create

No one expects to land an NBA contract before they start playing basketball. The same holds true for content creators. You’ll need to practice and show what you can do before getting paid to do it.

The trick is getting over the fear of starting. Just grab your phone and take a picture of your puppy or current art project. Post it and copy the tone of your favorite influencer. Or rewrite a content marketer’s post you like.

Don’t worry if your first attempts aren’t great. In fact, try to embrace that phase of your growth.

If you want to get better, you have to put in the reps.

5. Hone your voice and style

In the early days of your creative process, you’re going to copy other creators a lot. That’s OK. The most creative people in the world have been influenced by other creators.

How do you find your own unique style?

Pay attention to the one or two things you like best about your favorite creators’ work. Then add them to yours. Eventually, you have a dozen (or dozens) of things that mesh together and become something unique.

6. Create a portfolio

As soon as you write, video, or photograph your first piece of content—for pay or practice—save it somewhere.

Content creator - screenshot of a photographer's portfolio

Image source

Start with Google Docs or another free tool. If things are stored in several files, keep a spreadsheet with links for easy reference.

Don’t be shy about what does in there. You can also restrict access to certain items when you start to share it.

Eventually, publish your portfolio on a public website. Here’s a list of free places to keep your portfolio online.

7. Network

The old saying that “it’s not what you know, but who you know” is half right. You have to know how to create content. But who you know will help a ton when it’s time to find paying gigs.

LinkedIn is your first friend here. Follow people in your profession. Share, like, and reply to their posts. Ask to connect after they’ve had a chance to see your name a few times.

Here’s a personal tip: Reach out to people after they’ve been a guest on a relevant podcast. Most people want to know that their episode sounded good. So I send them a note on LinkedIn telling them how much I enjoyed the episode.

You can do the same things in the industry groups you join and on places like Reddit.

All those connections start to pay off when people recommend you for new opportunities.

Start your content creator journey today

It only takes one step to start a journey. Maybe today you post more thoughtfully on social media. Or read a blog post about writing blog posts.

No matter where you start, remember these tips:

  • Learn from your favorite creators
  • To become a content creator, start creating content
  • Save all of your work in a portfolio
  • Never stop networking with other creators

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How to Get Clients for Your Agency (That You’ll Love Working With)

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How to Get Clients for Your Agency (That You’ll Love Working With)

You can’t grow an agency if you don’t get new clients. Heck, you can’t even stay the same size, as some clients will leave eventually. And that’s why new client acquisition is always a top challenge for agencies.

How to get clients - Graph showing agency issues

AgencyAnalytics proved what most know: getting clients is a constant struggle for agencies.

What’s even harder is finding the right clients. You know, the ones your agency can make successful and that you actually enjoy working with.

That’s why we included tips in this guide that will not only help you get new clients, but also sift out the clients that aren’t a great fit (and will become a drain on your resources).

We’re focused on ad and marketing agencies here, but most of these principles will help any service provider get more amazing clients:

  1. Generate referrals
  2. Get reviews
  3. Network with complementary businesses
  4. Turn employees into ambassadors
  5. Share your secrets
  6. Present fixes to prospect’s problems
  7. Price properly
  8. Be active on social media
  9. Create an ideal customer profile
  10. Go big on social proof
  11. Be transparent

1. Generate referrals from past and present clients

Referrals come from happy clients that introduce your agency to new prospects. That means a referred lead already has some trust in your agency, making it one of the most valuable types of leads you can get.

The first step in generating more referrals is simply to ask for them. Reach out to current and even past clients and ask if anyone else they know could benefit from the results you’ve provided.

But to really put your new client acquisition on overdrive, take a page from other high-growth companies and create a customer referral program.

How to get clients - screenshot of hello fresh's referral programHow to get clients - screenshot of hello fresh's referral program

B2C companies like Hello Fresh rock customer referral programs and your agency can, too.

To get your referral program going:

  • Choose the offer: Pick an incentive, like a free service or future discount, to give to clients that successfully refer a new lead.
  • Make it easy: Create a simple form clients can use to refer other businesses.
  • Promote your program: Remind clients during regular meetings and via email so your referral program is always top of mind.

🛑 We’re just getting started! Get this free guide and learn actionable strategies to get new clients, expand your team, and refine your agency offerings.

2. Get reviews

Reviews are like referrals on blast. A single detailed review of your services in a highly visible place like Google can influence hundreds of would-be clients. And since 88% of people say an online review is as influential as a personal recommendation, reviews are an important method to get clients.

Get more clients - example of an agency review on GoogleGet more clients - example of an agency review on Google

Reviews on popular online platforms are new-client magnets.

Of course, the first step in getting great reviews is to provide great service. Assuming you have that covered, you’ll want to attract new reviews in as many ways as possible.

Here are a few tactics you can use:

  • Directly ask (here’s a list of templates to ask for reviews by phone, email, and more)
  • Add a link with a call to action on your website
  • Hand out physical “leave us a review” card
  • Include review opportunities in customer satisfaction surveys

Don’t forget to respond to reviews, since most people reading a review also see your response. It’s a chance to celebrate great reviews and rectify the less-than-flattering ones.

3. Network with complementary businesses

Other businesses in your sphere need clients, too. You can help each other out by trading referrals.

Let’s say you focus on content marketing, but one of your clients needs help running PPC campaigns. Offer the lead to a PPC agency you trust and ask that they return the favor sometime.

LinkedIn is an amazing place to build your professional network. Message complementary businesses and let them know you’ll look out for them if they do the same.

4. Turn employees into ambassadors

Each of your employees has a network and a sphere of influence. As they work in their field longer, their influence grows. Tap into this network by helping your employees become ambassadors for your agency.

Get more clients - example of an agency employee's post on Linkedin.Get more clients - example of an agency employee's post on Linkedin.

Even if it’s just reposting content your agency creates, employees can introduce your agency to lots of new audiences.

An easy way to do this is to ask your team to post about important company milestones on their social media accounts. Maybe it’s your 100th client, 10-year anniversary, or the company retreat. Posts like this help build your brand without pushing a hard sell—something many people would be reluctant to do on their personal feeds.

Another option is to send employees to conferences. Junior team members can benefit from the educational and networking experience. Senior employees could be speakers or panelists. In either case, you’ll have people out in the field drumming up awareness for your business.

5. Share your secrets

Most people will run marketing in house before they turn to an agency. Teach people how to do it themselves, and your agency will be at the top of the list when it’s time to hire.

That may sound counter-intuitive, but some of the biggest modern businesses grew rapidly using that exact technique.

Get more clients - Screenshot of TikTok about PPC ads.Get more clients - Screenshot of TikTok about PPC ads.

TikTok is a sleeper hit for educating prospective clients with quick, fun videos.

The good news is, there are plenty of formats and channels to educate your future clients. Without getting terribly creative, here are 10 options:

  1. Produce a blog (bonus points because it’ll help your SEO)
  2. Create a newsletter
  3. Speak at conferences and events
  4. Publish guest posts
  5. Be a podcast guest
  6. Create (or co-host) a webinar
  7. Share educational videos on TikTok or YouTube
  8. Post content on social media (especially LinkedIn!)
  9. Create mini-courses on your website
  10. Hold in-person lunch-and-learns

With a little imagination, you can probably come up with more. The goal is to pick the platforms that you’re comfortable with and that will appeal to your future clients.

6. Present fixes to prospect’s problems

This is an underrated tactic for getting new clients. Google companies in your target niche and see what their existing ad campaigns look like. Make a list of what you’d do differently, then email the company with ideas for them to improve.

This strategy works great for any type of marketing agency because advertising is, by nature, public. You can also use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to learn more about what’s working or not with your prospect’s marketing efforts.

Sure, some will take your thoughts and run with them. But many will want your help to make sure their next campaign is better.

7. Price properly

Agency pricing isn’t just about making a profit, it’s part of your brand. Let’s break this down.

Do you offer a truly a premium option with white-glove service? Then your pricing should be a little higher than your average competitor. Not just to cover the costs of the additional service, but also to signal to clients that what you do is different.

Alternatively, if your niche is helping fledgling businesses get a foothold online, and you do it at scale using automation, then your pricing might be lower. Again, it’s not just about the cost-plus-profit calculation. It’s another way to express your brand.

👋 Want to know how other agencies price their services (plus what they see as their biggest challenges)? Download the free State of the Digital Marketing Agency Report and find out.

8. Be active on social media

It’s impossible to understate the value of time spent on social media. Nowhere else can you build a network, prove your expertise, and directly connect with future clients on such a large scale.

But here’s the thing: you can’t just be a lurker. You have to be consistently active to get the benefits of social media.

Get more clients - screenshot of an interaction on social media.Get more clients - screenshot of an interaction on social media.

Don’t just post on social media; reply to comments on your posts and comment on other people’s posts.

Here are a few actions that’ll get you more clients quickly from social media:

  • Look for hashtags relevant to your business and join those conversations
  • Reply to other people’s posts
  • Save your replies and expand on them to create new posts
  • Reply to everyone who comments on your posts
  • Fill out your profile completely (add links, professional images, and a business description)

9. Create an ideal customer profile

    An ideal customer profile (ICP) is a little like a buyer persona, but it focuses more on your client’s organization than just the point of contact. This works well for agencies selling to other businesses, since people change positions, but the company remains relatively the same.

    Creating an ICP takes a few minutes, but the time is worthwhile. An ICP will help you find the clients that help you be more successful while filtering out those that’ll drain your agency’s resources.

    Here are a few steps you can use to create a basic ICP for your agency:

    • List client traits you want to have on your ICP: For agencies, it’ll be things like marketing goals, business model, company size, and industry.
    • Review past clients: Where do successful and less successful clients fall in these categories?
    • Create a point system: Assign points to each trait (so if your dental clients are always successful and construction clients aren’t, then dental prospects get 3 points and construction prospects get 0).

    Place all of this on a spreadsheet. Then continue to refine your ICP based on the success of new clients. Over time you’ll have a foolproof way of finding the best clients for your agency.

    10. Go big on social proof

    We’ve already mentioned how positive reviews and referrals help you build a fast-growing agency. Social proof does the same thing, only it’s much broader and more flexible.

    Get more clients - screenshot of an agency's website with social proofGet more clients - screenshot of an agency's website with social proof

    Splash your awards, reviews, and results all over your website.

    Social proof is just about any trust signal that shows people how awesome your agency is. That can be quotes from customers, the total revenue you’ve earned clients, logos of companies you’ve helped, or awards you’ve won.

    Social proof can also be long form, like customer stories or case studies.

    As you gather proof that your agency is awesome, put that stuff on everything. Landing pages, emails, proposals, anywhere a potential client might learn about your business should be decorated with social proof.

    11.Be transparent

    It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of signing a new client. But it’s really important to communicate the realities of working with you at the very beginning. If the truth of what you do and how you do it scares a client away, that’ll save you a ton of headache later on (and allow that client to find the right agency for them).

    Here are a few points to make clear as you’re wooing new clients:

    • What you can and can’t do: If you’re a PPC expert but haven’t focused on SEO, let the client know.
    • Set a communication schedule: Let your new client know they’ll get a review every month and that Fridays are off-limits.
    • Set proper expectations: Tell a customer upfront that results will take a while if they’re in a heavily populated market and have a small budget.
    • Don’t be afraid to say no: If a client asks for something that will not work, tell them so.
    • Put everything in writing: Document each call in an email that you can refer to if there are questions later on.

    You may turn a few clients away who have unrealistic expectations. But know that they’ll be back after the agency that lies to them doesn’t deliver.

    Learn how to get clients faster

    If you don’t have a team of dedicated, experienced business development professionals selling your agency, then you might find it difficult to keep new clients flowing through the front door.

    No problem! Just remember these tips and you’ll find plenty of ways to get clients, even without a team of salespeople.

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45+ Inclusive Holiday Marketing Ideas (+Examples!)

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45+ Inclusive Holiday Marketing Ideas to Shine Bright This Season

Diverse and inclusive marketing should be something you aim for year-round. However, it’s all that much more important during the holiday season as the more “traditional” holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving take the spotlight.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating these holidays and incorporating them into your marketing, but there are other groups and events that individuals in your audience appreciate.

inclusive marketing holidays - holiday marketing calendar example

A marketing calendar like this can help you plan your inclusive holiday marketing. 

That’s why we’ve rounded up over 40 inclusive holiday marketing ideas and examples so your business can shine bright this season.

Table of contents

Jump to inclusive marketing ideas for…

Inclusive November holiday marketing ideas & examples

To kick things off, check out these inclusion-focused marketing ideas for November:

Native American Heritage Month

If you’re hoping to incorporate Native American Heritage Month into your diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts this season, you’ll be in good company as The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Insituation, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum all regularly pay homage to this November monthly observance.

Native American Heritage Month is observed annually every November, and it celebrates the contributions the first Americans made towards the growth of the United States. It also honors and reflects on the struggles indigenous American people have endured.

native american heritage month tweetnative american heritage month tweet

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National Day of Mourning

A historically accurate description of Thanksgiving would include the reality of its damaging impact on Native American people, which is why we have the National Day of Mourning every year on Thanksgiving—to remind us of the pain Native American people have gone through, and still may be feeling today.

Here are some ideas for ways your business can pay its respects to Native American Heritage Month as well as the National Day of Mourning:

  • Amplify the voices of Native Americans by handing off your Instagram account to a Native American in your community for a day-long “takeover.” They can then go live on your stories or share posts about what Native American Heritage month means to them.
  • Loop Native American Heritage month and the National Day of Mourning into your Thanksgiving messaging by sharing more concious content around the holiday’s impact on Native American people.
  • Check out the free Native American Heritage Month resources on the U.S. Small Business Administration website. There you can find statistics to share, lists of Native American-Owned businesses to partner with, and more.
  • Spread awareness using a social media hashtag. The official hashtag for Native American Heritage Month is #NAHM.

inclusive marketing ideas - example native american heritage month linkedin postinclusive marketing ideas - example native american heritage month linkedin post

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National Adoption Month

There is always a lot of messaging around family during the holiday season, which makes it particularly important to stay mindful of those with non-traditional families. National Adoption Month, celebrated every November to bring awareness to children in foster care, provides an opportunity for this. Here are some ways to incorporate it into your holiday marketing campaigns:

  • Avoid using traditional parent roles in your holiday copywriting, like “mom” and “dad” which may make your audience members who don’t have that type of parental figure feel excluded.
  • Adjust your content to be more sensitive to those with different family structures. For example, instead of promoting an event as a “family fun day,” try “friends and family fun day” or “festival fun day.”
  • Highlight a superstar adoption story in your business’s community. If you have an employee, friend, or community member who was part of an adoption process, ask to share their story to showcase how they inspire your business during this month and beyond.
  • Raise awareness about adoption within minority groups. For example, did you know that adoptions done by LGBTQ+ couples only became legal in all 50 states just a few years ago in 2017?

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example instagram post for adoption monthinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example instagram post for adoption month

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❤Find the right words for your inclusive holiday marketing copy using our free guide to emotional copywriting complete with over 130 words and phrases for marketing with emotion.

Day of the Dead (November 1-2)

Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday that honors the soulds of the deceased. It’s a two-day celebration that starts every year on November 1 and carries into November 2. This colorful and fun holiday is believed to open the passageway between the real world and the spirit world in traditional Mexican culture, so many people of Mexican descent feel they can connect with their loved ones who have passed during this time.

Nearly 20% of the U.S. population is of Mexican heritage, so you’ll likely have audience members who celebrate Day of the Dead. Make your Mexican audience members feel included in your holiday marketing with these ideas and examples:

  • Share fun facts or hold a virtual trivia event centered around Day of the Dead to spread the word about the holiday’s traditions.
  • Decorate your store or office with traditional Day of the Dead skulls, flowers, and more. Be sure to snap a picture of your temporarily updated decor so you can share it on your company website or social media platforms.
  • Honor those who have passed. Have you or an employee ever lost a friend or loved one you’d like to commemorate? Day of the Dead is the perfect opportunity to do so! You could share their story on social media to give your audience a more personalized perspective of your business.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example day of the dead office decorationsinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example day of the dead office decorations

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Forget-Me-Not Day (November 10)

Having been around since World War I, Forget-Me-Not Day happens annually on November 10 — right before Veteran’s Day on November 11. Forget-Me-Not Day is meant to honor and remember wounded soldiers who have become disabled due to their time fighting for our freedom.

The number of veterans who carry the weight of service-related physical and mental hardships is very high. In fact, counting only wars from 2001 and beyond still amounts to about 1.5 million veterans in America with a service-connected disability. While wounded veterans should be remembered every day, here’s how your marketing can honor them on Forget-Me-Not Day:

  • Donate your time, resources, or (if your marketing budget allows) money to a local Veteran’s organization or shelter.
  • Be mindful of your veteran (and civilian) customers who have a disability by focusing on your website accessibility. Take time to ensure your site is easy to navigate regardless of what assistance someone might need. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this complete website accessibility checklist.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example forget me not day instagram postinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example forget me not day instagram post

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Women Entrepreneurs Day (November 19)

Only four out of every ten entrepreneurs in the U.S. are women. Women Entrepreneurs Day, occurring annually on November 19, aims to change that.

This inclusive holiday is much needed, as America is still far behind other countries in terms of women entrepreneurs. In comparison, women represent 50% of entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Here’s how your business can make an impact with this holiday:

  • Share surprising statistics about women entrepreneurs through an email marketing campaign or social media post. These are sure to engage your audience while spreading awareness. You can find plenty of diversity, equity, and inclusion in marketing statistics here.
  • Partner with a woman-owned business. You could cross-promote one another in-store or online, and offer samples or discounts on each other’s offerings.
  • Support the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization. Also known as WEDO, this organization acts as a hub for Women Entrepreneurs Day. On its site you’ll find many ways to elevate your marketing for the day, including events you can attend, ways to donate, custom hashtags, surprising statistics, inspiring stories, and more!

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - women entrepreneurs day marketing example inclusive holiday marketing ideas - women entrepreneurs day marketing example

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Transgender Day of Rememberance (November 20)

Transgender Day of Rememberance occurs annually on November 20 to honor and remember transgender people who lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence. It started in 1998 in memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was stabbed in Allston, Massachusetts that same year.

This inclusive holiday is important to acknowledge because, sadly, these acts of violence are still occuring as 2020 was the most violent year on record for transgender people. Your business can become a transgender ally on Transgender Rememberance Day and beyond with these ideas:

  • Donate or volunteer to a local LGBTQ+ organization.
  • Spread awareness and acceptance by openly sharing your allyship on your website, social media, local listings, and more.
  • If you have an employee, family member, friend, or community member who is openly transgender you could ask their permission to highlight their story in an email send or social post.
  • Amplify transgender voices by resharing public speeches, posts, and more from transgender people. You could even handing off your “mic” by allowing a transgender person in your business’s community to do a social media takeover.

inclusive holiday marketing - transgender day of rememberance exampleinclusive holiday marketing - transgender day of rememberance example

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Inclusive December holiday marketing ideas and examples

Here are some December marketing ideas that will help you to embrace diversity and inclusion:

Rosa Parks Day (December 1)

Rosa Parks Day is celebrated twice annually, once on December 1 and once on February 4. This inclusive holiday is to, of course, honor civil rights hero and leader Rosa Parks.

The Rosa Parks story is one no American citizen can forget, as she bravely did not give up her seat to a white passenger after a long day of work on December 1, 1955. This action jumpstarted the Montgomery Bus Boycott organized by E.D. Nixon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders at the time. Here’s how your business can observe Rosa Parks Day:

  • Encourage your audience to educate themselves on Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement by sharing with them your favorite books around the era. For example, Rosa Parks herself wrote a couple of books, including Rosa Parks: My Story and Quiet Strength: The Faith, The Hope, and the Heart of a Woman Who Changed a Nation.
  • Partner with a black-owned business in your community and run a joint campaign themed around civil rights and standing up (or sitting down) for what you believe in.
  • Run a Rosa Parks-themed giveaway. There is a Rosa Parks museum at Troy University in Alabama. You could entice your audience to enter to win free tickets to the museum or do a full-on sweepstake by offering a complete trip to tour the museum.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - rosa parks day example instagram postinclusive holiday marketing ideas - rosa parks day example instagram post

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Human Rights Day (December 10)

Inclusivity means making sure all types of people feel like they belong, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, etc. That’s why Human Rights Day (occurring on December 10 each year) is the perfect holiday to incorporate into your inclusive marketing this season.

Human Rights Day was created by the UN in 1948 to proclaim the rights everyone is entitled to as a human being “regardless race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Show your audience you support the rights of all people with these Human Rights Day marketing ideas:

  • Attend a human rights event and share a recap of your experience with your audience to inspire them to do the same. There are plenty of political summits, cultural conferences, and more held on Human Rights Day, so simply being present at an event in your community can spread awareness and inspiration.
  • Create a shareable, public playlist of your favorite songs about human rights. There are plenty of inspiring songs your audience will want to listen to, so you could simply build a quick list on a platforms like Pandora, Spotify, Soundcloud, and more. Be sure to include your business name in your playlist’s title so that your audience will think of your brand as they listen. As a bonus, you could have the playlist play for the day in your store or office, and share a quote from one of your top songs on social media.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - human rights day example linkedin post inclusive holiday marketing ideas - human rights day example linkedin post

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Hanukkah

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration. The dates of Hannukah change each year as it starts on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. Hanukkah traditions include lighting a menorah, exchanging gifts, and enjoying cultural cuisine like latkes (potato pancakes). Over 5% of Americans celebrate Hannukah, so here’s how your business can take part:

  • The best part of any holiday? The food! Try sharing a traditional Hanukkah recipe on various marketing channels.
  • If you’re decorating your office or store for Christmas, stay mindful of those who celebrate Hanukkah as well by including a menorah, dreidels, and more in your display.
  • Use our Hanukkah Instagram captions for post inspiration.
  • Play off the eight days of Hanukkah by writing a blog post or email that shares eight tips or eight top products for your audience to check out.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - hanukkah email tips exampleinclusive holiday marketing ideas - hanukkah email tips example

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Speaking of email, do you have your annual holiday customer appreciation email written? If not (or even if you do), don’t miss our heartfelt holiday email templates.

Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)

Kwanzaa is a seven-day African American holiday that occurs annually from December 26 to January 1. Each day of the celebration is dedicated to the following seven cultural principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Work the values of Kwanzaa into your inclusive holiday marketing plan with these ideas:

  • Focus on one of the seven Kwanzaa principles and share with your audience how your business strives to embody it. For example, you could incorporate unity or collective responsibility into your video marketing strategy by giving your audience a behind-the-scenes look at the teamwork of your employees.
  • As you decorate your store or office for Christmas and Hanukkah, be sure to include Kwanzaa as well. For example, each day of Kwanzaa requires one of seven candles to be lit — which are in an arrangement called a Kinara. You could add a Kinara to your decor, or include other Kwanzaa decorations like traditional African crops such as ears of dried corn and more.
  • Try out any of these Kwanzaa Instagram captions.
  • Add a twist to one of your products or offerings and refresh it for the Kwanzaa season by changing its name or colors.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - kwanzaa product positioning in an example emailinclusive holiday marketing ideas - kwanzaa product positioning in an example email

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Inclusive January holiday marketing ideas and examples

Some of the “bigger” holidays may be over by the time January comes around, but there are still plenty of diverse holidays you can leverage in your inclusive marketing strategy this month:

National Braille Literacy Month

January is Braille Literacy Month because Louie Braille, the creator of the braille system, was born in January. This monthly observance is meant to bring awareness to those who are visually impaired. Here’s how your business can take part in National Braille Literacy Month:

  • Audit your website for visual accessibility features and optimize where you can to cater to your visually impaired audience members.
  • Share fun facts about the braille system to entertain your audience while spreading awareness of the need for braille literacy. For example, did you know that Braille is primarily created by just six dots? And, there are separate codes used for music, math, walkways, and more!

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example braille literacy month facebook postinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example braille literacy month facebook post

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs on the third Monday of every January to commemorate his birthday on January 15. It’s no secret that Dr. King played one of the most impactful roles in American history as he helped lead the civil rights movement. In fact, this holiday is also often called Civil Rights Day, since Dr. King had such an influence on the civil rights movements during the 1950’s, 1960’s, and beyond. Dr. King’s legacy still resonates today as we continue to strive for equality across the nation. Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with these ideas:

  • Share an inspiring story or quote from Dr. King’s life to celebrate his work with your audience.
  • Lead by example by embodying Dr. King’s principle of peaceful protest. Is there a cause in your community or industry that you feel passionate about? Hold a peaceful in-person or virtual event to discuss the topic with your brand’s community members.

inclusive holiday marketing - dr martin luther king jr quote feature on social mediainclusive holiday marketing - dr martin luther king jr quote feature on social media

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National Religious Freedom Day (January 16)

National Religious Freedom Day is celebrated each year on January 16 because the Statute for Religious Freedom was signed on January 16, 1786. This statute created the base for the core principles our country still stands by to this day, and guaranteed freedom to practice any desired religion is one of the privelages Americans rely on. Show how your business cares this holiday season by implementing these Religious Freedom Day marketing ideas:

  • If you’re using stock photos on your website, social media, Google Ads campaigns, and other marketing materials, try to ensure you’re using diverse visuals to embrace religious freedom. For example, you might try to include images of women wearing hijabs, or men wearing kippahs or yarmulkes. We share more tips on inclusivity in advertising here.
  • Join a National Religious Freedom Day online discussion to share the religion you practice and encourage your audience to do the same. If you don’t currently practice any religion, that’s okay too! Acknowledging the norm that everyone’s religious journey (or lack thereof) is different will be the point of this inclusive marketing idea. Plus, you’ll be building your brand community as you foster an open discussion with your audience.
  • Educate your audience on their religious freedom rights by sharing out resources on laws and regulations relating to religious freedom.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - religious freedom inclusive holiday marketing ideas - religious freedom

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💡 Make the most of these inclusive marketing holidays with our guide to the 30 best ways to promote your business year-round.

International Day of Acceptance (January 20)

International Day of Acceptance is fairly new as it was established back in 2010. It was created to foster social acceptance for those with disabilities. International Day of Acceptance happens every year on January 20 and reminds us that people should feel comfortable to be who they are regardless of their varying abilities. Here are some inclusive holiday marketing ideas you can leverage on this day and beyond to make your audience feel more accepted:

  • Promote a new product or service offering that’s tailored to the needs of those with disabilities.
  • Share helpful resources for your customers to educate themselves on disabilities, acceptance, and allyship.
  • Spread the word of this inclusive holiday on social media with the hashtag #dayofacceptance and implement the symbol of acceptance (a wheelchair intertwined with a heart) in your creative elements.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - acceptance day instagram post inclusive holiday marketing ideas - acceptance day instagram post

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Chinese New Year

Many people assume the holiday festivities end on December 31, but the Chinese New Year keeps the celebrations going since it happens shortly after, between January 21 and February 20 depending on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The public holiday will last for seven days, but celebrations can go on for 16 days.

Try out these Chinese New Year celebration ideas:

  • Share the Chinese zodiac chart on your website or social media so that your audience can check out what their own chinese zodiac would be. For example, 2023 will be the year of the rabbit. Perhaps it will be a special year for some of your customers whose birth year aligns with the rabbit!
  • Use our New Year’s Instagram captions to publish engaging and thought-provoking posts.
  • Partner with a local Chinese-owned business and offer a special deal to patrons of both your businesses during Chinese New Year.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - chinese new year marketing exampleinclusive holiday marketing ideas - chinese new year marketing example

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Make your holiday marketing more inclusive this year

It’s super important to recognize beliefs and perspectives other than our own and to give a voice to minority groups—and clearly, there are endless ways you can demonstrate diversity, equity, and inclusion during the holiday season. So be sure to use these inclusive marketing ideas and examples as inspiration to ignite your own holiday promotions.

To recap, here are the holidays and observances we covered:

  • November
    • Native American Heritage Month
    • National Adoption Month
    • Day of the Dead (November 1-2)
    • Forget-Me-Not Day (November 10)
    • Women Entrepreneurs Day (November 19)
    • Transgender Day of Rememberance (November 20)
  • December
    • Rosa Parks Day (December 1)
    • Human Rights Day (December 10)
    • Hanukkah (changes annually)
    • Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)
  • January
    • National Braille Literacy Month
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15)
    • National Religious Freedom Day (January 16)
    • International Day of Acceptance (January 20)
    • Chinese New Year (changes annually)

If you’re looking for more resources on growing your business during the holidays, check out these posts:



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5 Quick & Easy Ways to Get More Referral Traffic (+Examples)

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5 Quick Tips to Increase Referral Traffic

Search engines (mostly Google) are still the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to generating clicks to your website. But ignoring referral traffic from other sources like directories, social media, and other websites would be a huge mistake.

This is especially true as younger audiences increasingly search for businesses on social media and as referral traffic increased from 3% to over 10% of total traffic for the average website in 2022.

referral traffic growth year over year

In this guide, you’ll learn the most popular sources of referral traffic, how it helps your business grow, and what you can do to get more clicks from places outside of search engines.

Table of contents

What is referral traffic?

Referral traffic refers to traffic coming from a link on a site that’s not your own. If you clicked the link we added to the introduction of this guide, the website you landed on would count your visit as referral traffic.

By comparison, the other common website traffic sources are search and direct traffic. Search traffic comes from visitors clicking on search engine results. Direct traffic is from visitors that go directly to your website, like if they type your URL into their browser.

Examples of referral traffic sources can include:

  • Social media apps like Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)
  • Online directories like Yelp or Angi
  • Just about any non-search engine website like a blog post

👋 Need to get more website visitors? These 25 ways to increase traffic to your website will help you attract interested buyers in droves!

Why is referral traffic beneficial?

If you want to grow your business, attracting more referral traffic is an important step. Here are three reasons why.

Generate more potential leads

At the most basic level, increasing referral traffic means increasing the number of potential customers who visit your website.

But it’s not just more people coming in through your virtual door. It’s people that found you by actively clicking a link that interested them. So if the backlink they clicked is relevant to your website, those visitors have a high intent to learn about, and maybe purchase, what you sell.

Get more traffic from search engines

Backlinks from high-quality websites are a signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy.

Referral traffic - Graphic showing main SEO ranking factorsReferral traffic - Graphic showing main SEO ranking factors

Backlinks are still an influential search engine ranking factor, as shown in this graph from FirstPageSage.

As your backlink profile and referral traffic grow, you’ll land on more search engine results pages and generate more traffic from them.

Reduce your reliance on Google

Google is a fantastic source of traffic. But relying too much on a single source is dangerous—especially as Google’s constant updates can greatly affect your traffic overnight.

Referral traffic - Headline from search engine journal about Google volitilityReferral traffic - Headline from search engine journal about Google volitility

Headlines like this one from Search Engine Journal show why it’s important to diversify your website traffic sources.

As you diversify your sources of referral traffic, you gain more control over the success of your site. If one source, like search, takes a hit, you can buffer the dip with more traffic from another source like directories.

5 ways to get more referral traffic

So generating more referral traffic is important. But how do we go about getting more of it? Let’s dive in.

1. Get listed in online directories

Online directories are like the phonebooks of the digital age. People look to websites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, and Angi (formerly Angi’s List) to find the services and business they need.

Referral traffic - screenshot from YelpReferral traffic - screenshot from Yelp

Yelp is one of the most popular business directories, but there are dozens of others that will help increase your online footprint.

Ideally, you want exposure on as many directories as possible. But you also want to make sure that your information is current, so no one gets frustrated trying to reach you. You can even optimize your listings with things like images, service descriptions, and reviews.

🚨 Not sure if your directory listings are up to par? Use our free Listings Grader to instantly check your listing information across 20+ top online directories.

2. Submit guest posts

Guest posts are a great way to build up referral traffic. The idea is to reach out to websites that want content, and offer to write a blog post in exchange for the backlinks they provide.

It’s best to focus your guest posting efforts on sites that are related to your business, which means your content will be in front of a relevant audience providing top-notch referral traffic. If you can set up a regular guest posting schedule, all the better, because that allows you to keep your referral traffic from those sources steady over time and increase traffic to your website.

3. Write press releases

Press releases are a quick and easy way to get a wave of fresh traffic from referring URLs. It’s a great idea to do a press release for an event you’ll be hosting or to announce milestones like executive changes, earnings releases, acquisitions, and product launches.

Referral traffic - Press release from a breweryReferral traffic - Press release from a brewery

A press release is great for promoting new products or events while generating valuable referral traffic from the publications that pick it up.

But to be honest, if you are paying for a press release, you can write about pretty much anything and pretend it’s newsworthy. Some businesses even send out press releases whenever they get a new client.

4. Get active on social media

Social media sites are also natural contenders for bringing in referral traffic. Plus, there are several options to fit your brand and audience.

Facebook, for example, is fantastic for an older audience and organizing events. TikTok caters to a younger crowd and lets you show off your video flair. And of course, there’s LinkedIn, if your target customer is of a professional mindset.

No matter which social media platforms you choose, make sure your posts have a clear call to action that leads people to your website. That’s how you drive referral traffic from social media apps.

Referral traffic - Instagram post from Accessible Community Referral traffic - Instagram post from Accessible Community

Depending on the platform, you can add CTA links, buttons, or text in the caption.

5. Create link-worthy content

If you want to catch backlinks and increase the traffic you get from other websites, you need the right bait. In this case, we’re talking about content that other websites want to link to.

Here are a few types of content that writers and marketers love to link to:

  • Original data: Statistics from a survey or data your app captures
  • Infographics: A roundup of statistics or a visual presentation of a process
  • Opinionated blog posts: A fresh take on a common question in your industry

Once you’ve created your backlink magnet, share it with publications and thought leaders in your industry so they can link back to your site.

Referral traffic the easy way

Referral traffic is an important source of new potential customers. As search engines get more finicky, and more people search social media platforms, referrals will be an even bigger factor in your success online.

As you think about how to get more website visitors from more places, remember these five quick and easy ways to get more referral traffic:

  1. Get listed in online directories
  2. Submit guest posts
  3. Write press releases
  4. Get active on social media
  5. Create link-worthy content

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