Author: Franz Malten Buemann

No business can survive without customers. While customer retention is incredibly important, attracting new customers is essential to growing your business. Because of this, customer acquisition should be a top priority for business owners. This begs the question, how do you get new customers or clients in the literal or figurative door?

Traditionally, your sales team will engage with your potential customers, sending emails, making phone calls, and visiting them in person depending on the nature of your business. Though this approach is often effective, is it the most efficient use of your employees’ time?
Many successful businesses have decided that it would be better for the customers to come to them, rather than them go to the customers. One of the ways to do this is to take an inbound approach and implement a content marketing strategy.
This is a great move for most businesses, however, when you incorporate a content marketing campaign into your overall strategy, you’ll want to ensure you’re seeing a return on your investment.
Content marketing is a type of marketing where you create and share online content in order to spread awareness about what you do and create interest in working with or purchasing from your company.
Earlier, we mentioned how salespeople will interact with potential customers multiple times. Why do they do this? These multiple contacts are so that when your potential customer is ready to be an actual customer, your business is top-of-mind.
Content marketing seeks to do the same thing, but more efficiently. By creating content in the form of blogs, videos, or social media posts, you can position your business as the “go-to expert” in your field. Essentially, you become the brand people find and think of when they are having a problem.
As important as this is, content marketing works in another important way. As a consumer, what do you do when you have a problem? If you’re like millions of other people, you ask Google how to fix that problem. You may not even know how to communicate what’s wrong, but Google magically knows and directs you to the answers you need.
When you engage in content marketing, you become the answer that your potential customer is searching for.
Does it work? According to the Content Marketing Institute, content marketing leaders experience nearly eight times more site traffic than non-leaders.
Need more convincing? Demand Metric says that content marketing costs 62% less than outbound marketing, and generates three times as many leads.
What are content marketing metrics?
Is content marketing a good strategy to incorporate into your business? Probably. But, it takes time and energy to plan and resources to execute. Just like any other strategy, you would think to include, you’ll want to make sure that you’re seeing a healthy return on investment (ROI) for your effort.
In order to do that, you’ll need to become familiar with content marketing metrics. With these numbers, you’ll be able to determine if what you’re doing is making an impact as is, if you’ll need to tweak your approach, or if you’ll need to abandon it altogether in exchange for something else.
Content Marketing Success Metrics
While there are hundreds of specific metrics out there you could use to determine whether or not your content marketing efforts are making enough of an impact to justify their costs, there are a handful of metrics that are essential. Incorporating the following numbers into your content marketing metrics dashboard will give you a great understanding of your performance and effectiveness.
1. Traffic Sources
It’s wonderful to discover that people are consuming your content. But, how did they find out about it? A truly successful content marketing plan will attract new potential customers through engaging content. On the other hand, you may also be creating more engagement with past customers or on-the-fence potential customers. This is still good as it can create repeat business and help you stay top-of-mind.
Either way, it’s important to know how readers have made their way to your content. To find traffic sources to your blog or website, you can use a platform such as Google Analytics.
2. Impressions
How is your content doing? Does Google recognize that you are an “answer” to the searcher’s problems? Using Google Search Console, you can determine how many impressions your content has received. The more impressions, the more people you’ve reached.
3. Click-through-rate (CTR)
Impressions or views of your content is important, however, without acknowledging your CTR or click-through rate, you won’t be able to fully understand whether or not your content is effective.
More people may be viewing or consuming your content, but is it moving them to action? Are they visiting your website? Are they learning more about your products? Understanding your click-through rate provides this insight.
4. Content Shares and Backlinks
You’re putting out good content (hopefully!), but is it good enough to share? The true test of your content is whether or not people find it useful or interesting enough to share with their own audiences.
Bonus, the more your content is shared, the more Google sees it as the “solution” and shows it to more people. If you’re posting on social media, shares are easy to determine. If you’re looking at blog content, you can use a tool such as BuzzSumo or Ahrefs.
5. Email Opt-in Rates
Click-through rates are important to know if your readers are taking action on your content by visiting your website. However, if they don’t buy right away, are they giving you the opportunity to capture their information and connect with them in the future?
When your content marketing is performing well and truly doing its job, readers will be comfortable sharing their contact information with you and eager to hear more of what you have to say, and potentially purchase your product or service in the future. Your email marketing software can give you this metric.
6. Bounce Rate
Ideally, once people land on your website, they’ll take the time to explore, digest some of your content, and buy. Sometimes though, you’ll see a high bounce rate because people have navigated away from your website immediately after they were directed there. This could be due to slow-loading, a poor user experience, or different content than they expected.
It’s important to know your bounce rate and then understand what’s causing it. This helps you avoid putting all the time and effort into creating quality content, only to find that something on your website is turning off potential customers.
7. Keyword Rankings
A big part of content marketing is selecting the right keywords for your desired audience. Ultimately, the question is “what are your potential customers searching for on Google?” Once you’ve figured that out, you can incorporate those words into your content and ideally, be found more easily.
However, keywords change over time and you’ll need to make sure that you are being successful in your endeavors. Review the keyword rankings using SEMRush or Google Search Console and tweak your keywords or your content when it’s not performing well.
Content Marketing Dashboard
If you’re looking to keep your metrics and data organized, consider creating a content marketing dashboard with up-to-date visuals of the key metrics you want your team to track. When content marketers are clear on their goals, they are in a better position to meet and exceed them.
The ideal content marketing metrics for you to use will be determined by what your goals are with your content marketing strategy. If you are looking to increase brand awareness, you will utilize different metrics than if your primary goal is to increase sales of a specific product or increase turnout for your next event.

Whether you’re sending out cold emails all day or drafting up campaigns and proposals, it’s tedious to spend time pouring over grammar. You can waste precious time deciding if you’re supposed to be using ‘affect’ or ‘effect’ or if you’ve used the word ‘very’ too many times. Instead, finding the best grammar checker for your work can automate this task and boost your productivity.

These days, there are many grammar checkers out there that all claim to be the best. Here are some of the best grammar checkers used and trusted by thousands of users every day.
Some grammar checkers may automatically edit content as you write, while others will flag incorrect spellings or awkward phrases for you to review. Many editors will even take you line by line to identify passive sentences, overly long paragraphs, or other complex errors that even keen human eyes may miss.
Using a grammar checker can give you some peace of mind when you’re writing a lot of content daily. Never again will you accidentally and embarrassingly leave off the ‘o’ at the end of ‘hello’ or misspell a simple word on a huge event poster. This software can help automate editing, so you can focus on getting your thoughts written down and submitted by the deadline.
What are the best functions of a grammar checker?
Some grammar checkers may just check the basics, like spelling and punctuation. More advanced programs can identify passive sentence structures, awkward phrases, and copy that is too complex for the average reader. How you work will greatly determine what functions you need.
Consider looking for options that check spelling, grammar, readability, redundancies, sentence length, and repeated words. For example, some grammar checkers can even tell if you have started consecutive sentences with the same word, so you can avoid your copy sounding monotonous.
If you’re wanting to create error-free copy, consider one of these top grammar checkers, both free and premium. You’ll find options that even work for emails, social media, and on your phone.
1. Hemingway Editor
Image Source
Looking for a free grammar checker? Consider Hemingway Editor, which is one of the best free grammar checkers with plenty of advanced features. This website and desktop app reviews your writing to determine readability with the Flesch-Kincaid reading level, which generally recommends that you aim for easy, conversational language to fairly easy-to-read content (grades 6 through 8 on the scale).
This program will scan content for adverbs, passive sentences, and complex or long sentences. It highlights issues in various colors, so you can edit in real-time. The big drawback with this free program is that you’ll need to copy and paste your text over into the editor; it doesn’t scan your text in emails or other documents.
2. Grammarly
Image Source
You’ve probably heard of Grammarly, which is one of the most popular grammar checkers out there. This software uses AI to improve your writing. It includes a free browser extension with limited features or a paid version with more advanced checking tools. The free option checks grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
What makes Grammarly unique is that the premium plans even check your tone, so Grammarly can tell you if your email sounds too harsh or it can recommend ways to make your words sound more confident. Another perk of Grammarly is that once you install it, it works across multiple platforms, including documents, emails, and even social media.
3. Ginger
Image Source
Ginger is another free grammar checking program with a website, browser extensions, and even an app for iOS and Android, so you can work on the go. For a free grammar checker, Ginger has impressive tools to detect basic grammar errors as well as more complex issues like inconsistent verb tenses, singular versus plural errors, and subject-verb disagreement.
You can check text and fix multiple issues with just one click, making Ginger efficient and a major productivity booster.
4. ProWritingAid
Image Source
ProWritingAid is a browser extension with a user-friendly interface to help you improve your content. It grades content on readability to make sure it isn’t too difficult to read.
There are also handy tools that evaluate sentence variety and passive voice. It’s especially helpful for creative writers, thanks to two unique features that identify unusual dialogue tags and emotional tells. This encourages more creativity, particularly for long-form writing.
In addition to the grammar checker, ProWritingAid works almost like a mentor by offering educational tools like articles, videos, and even quizzes to strengthen your writing skills. The program is free for basic features, but you can upgrade to premium options for the more in-depth tools and a bonus plagiarism tracker.
5. WhiteSmoke
Image Source
If you want a trusty grammar checker used by major universities and corporations, WhiteSmoke is one to consider. It can detect a number of grammar errors, including sentence fragments, comma splices, run-on sentences, misspellings, and more. The program’s style checker detects monotonous sentence lengths and switching tenses, and WhiteSmoke also offers a translator that can translate single words or full texts to and from 55 different languages.
There’s no free plan for WhiteSmoke, but you can start checking your content as low as $5 per month. It works with any browser and for Gmail.
6. Google Workplace/Google Docs
Image Source
If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to a free and pretty robust grammar checker. Type up an email, and Gmail will automatically flag words or phrases it thinks could be mistakes. The same goes for Google Docs.
While you might want to download additional software for more advanced features, Google offers some helpful spelling and grammar checking services for free with your account.
7. LanguageTool
Image Source
Trusted by big names like Amazon and RingCentral, LanguageTool is a multilingual grammar checker that analyzes text for grammatical, spelling, and style issues. The user-friendly interface offers light or dark mode, so spending a day writing doesn’t have to equate to tired eyes.
The service keeps text secure, important if you’re working with sensitive or exclusive information. With LanguageTool, you can set up a personal dictionary of words, so the program won’t mistakenly flag your company’s branded names.
The program works along with multiple browsers, word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, or email, and you can also choose browser extensions or even the desktop app. The free plan will check up to 10,000 characters per text, or opt for more advanced features with the individual or team plans.
8. Writer
Image Source
The aptly named Writer is an AI editing program that helps create crisp, clean copy that fits your brand’s voice. It includes autocorrect and autocomplete features, so hitting inbox zero has never been easier. You can create your own library of relevant marketing terms, customize the writing and grammar rules to fit your brand, and even build a company style guide with Writer.
As you type Writer will highlight mistakes or phrases it thinks could be better, and as you hover over each section, you’ll be greeted with intuitive suggestions to make the content concise and engaging. There’s a free plan or a free trial for more advanced plans, which include options for individuals, teams, or enterprises.
Automate Editing With a Reliable Grammar Checker
There’s a trusty grammar checker for every business and budget. Even free versions will give you plenty of insight into your copy, so you can reduce passive voice, minimize errors, and create content that will engage clients, boost sales, and grow your business.
When choosing a grammar checker, keep in mind where you need it most — do you want it to review emails and blogs, or just internal documents? Will it check for anything beyond spelling? Once you have the features you want the most, you’ll have an easier time finding the right one for you.

Happy employees are the key to a successful business. According to the University of Oxford, happy employees are 13% more productive. High employee satisfaction can go a long way towards your bottom line.
Of course, when your employees are not happy, that shows too. You’ll likely see a slowdown in productivity, a change in the work environment, and you may start seeing an increase in employee turnover.
What have you noticed in your own organization? Are employees loyal and in it for the long haul, or are they leaving in droves? If you’ve been seeing more and more employees leaving the company in a short amount of time, it might be time to calculate your attrition rate and examine what’s really going on in your organization.

There are a variety of metrics that you can use to determine how your employees are doing. Many of them focus on productivity metrics such as progress to goals. However, these productivity metrics don’t tell the whole story.
That’s why it’s important to understand your attrition rate to help determine the health of your organization. Let’s discuss what an attrition rate is and how to lower it.
Understanding your team’s attrition rate is important for the health of your organization because having a high attrition rate can have devastating impacts on your team’s success. With too many experienced team members leaving at once, you run the risk of losing valuable organizational knowledge and losing revenue from repeated hiring and onboarding costs.
Now that you know what an attrition rate is, let’s review how to calculate it for your organization.
How To Calculate Attrition Rate
To calculate the attrition rate, take the number of people who have left your company (or team) and divide it by the average number of employees over a period of time. You then multiply that figure by 100 to present it as a percentage.

Let’s say at the end of the year you had 500 employees in your organization. During the first quarter of the following year, 100 employees left. This would leave you with an attrition rate of 20% for that time period.
It’s worth noting that a team’s attrition rate can be subjective based on the size of the company. Though there is no single number that is considered a good or bad attrition rate, later on, we’ll cover the important factors to keep in mind when reviewing your team’s attrition data, and when to take action.
Before we dive into that, we need to understand that not all employee exits are created equal. There are four different types of attrition and each one may be saying something different.
Types of Attrition
People leave jobs for various reasons – some voluntary and some involuntary. Let’s look at the four categories of attrition and what they mean.

Voluntary attrition occurs when an employee chooses to leave a position on their own accord.

Involuntary attrition occurs when an employee has been released from the company.

Internal attrition occurs when employees move from one position to another within the same company.

Demographic-specific attrition occurs when there is a noticeable pattern of a specific group leaving a team or company during a given time period (this can be age, gender, ethnicity, parental status, etc.)

Internal attrition is generally not a cause for concern. If employees feel comfortable staying within the same company, it’s often because overall, the culture is good and they are just looking for a promotion or new opportunity.
This can, however, be an issue if an entire department makes an exodus to other areas of the company. This suggests that you may have a management problem in that area.
Next would be involuntary attrition. These employees are being asked to leave the company. They may have been performing below expectations or weren’t a good fit for the role. When this happens, it’s a good idea to review hiring procedures and guidelines to ensure your team is hiring individuals who have the best chance at being successful in their role.
Voluntary attrition is much more concerning. If you have a large number of employees leaving the company at once, there may be an issue with your company culture, management, or compensation. In a bit, we’ll discuss how to identify and correct these issues.
Finally, if you are seeing demographic-specific attrition, there may be a very big problem at play. When people of the same gender, age group, ethnicity, sexual orientation, parental status, or any other personal characteristic are leaving en masse, it may be because of systemic issues in how your company is structured and operated. A close examination of your culture and operations is warranted.
High Attrition Rate
As mentioned above, attrition rates are relative depending on the size of the company. To understand if your attrition rate is higher than it should be, compare your attrition rate to your retention rate for the same time period. Your retention rate measures the number of employees who have remained in your organization.
To calculate your retention rate, divide the number of employees who have remained in your organization by the number of employees you started with (this should be the same figure you use to calculate your attrition rate) and divide this number by 100.
If you suspect a high attrition rate, it’s important to compare your numbers to other companies in your industry, in your geographic location, and within the company, compare departmental attrition numbers to other areas of your business. These comparisons will alert you to any problems or may put your mind at ease.
Aside from the possibility of having an unhappy team, there are several other problems that can occur when your attrition rate is high.

Frustrated Employees – When someone leaves, their work doesn’t stop getting done. Often other employees will have to take over their responsibilities until a backfill is hired. In some instances, that individual’s role may not be filled, and their work may be absorbed by other members of their team which could lead to overwhelm and burnout.

Team Dynamic – While you may not love everyone you work with, professional teams have often built rapport with one another. When one person (or more) leaves the team, there is an adjustment period that can be felt throughout the department.

Loss of Knowledge – If an employee chooses to leave, they will sometimes provide enough notice to document their processes and procedures for their replacement. However, even when they do, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to provide them with the depth of knowledge they have accrued during their tenure.

Resource Constraints – Hiring costs can add up. It’s estimated that it costs about 50-60% of the departing employee’s salary to hire a replacement for their role.

Average Attrition Rate
With all this talk of attrition rates, you’re probably wondering how your company compares to other organizations out there.
First, it’s important to note that attrition rates can depend on a lot of different factors. As you can imagine, the stress level in certain industries and roles is considerably higher than in others. This may sometimes account for higher attrition rates. Geographic concerns such as rising home costs could also impact the number of employees leaving their jobs.
In 2021, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average turnover rate was 57.3% across industries.
Low Attrition Rate
It is important to note that while a high attrition rate can be bad for business for the reasons listed above, an extremely low rate could be detrimental as well. Why? Because without the ability to bring new employees who offer unique perspectives and skillsets to a team, an organization could reach a point of stagnation.
Bringing new people to the table can increase ingenuity and creativity, and help a company make positive changes.
How to Lower Your Attrition Rate
If you’ve calculated your attrition rate, compared it to other departments and other companies, and deemed it high, it’s time to get to work. There are a number of actions you can take to lower this attrition rate and put your company back on the right path.
The most important step is getting to the root of the problem. What is causing employees to leave? This is the biggest piece of information you need to make the correct changes.
Conduct Exit Interviews
There is nothing more valuable than feedback from an employee who has nothing to lose by being completely honest. You can set up a formal exit interview as employees give notice.
You’ll want to discuss a number of aspects of the business with them, including:

Pay and Benefits – Your employees may be leaving simply because another company is offering them more.

Recognition and Appreciation – Did they feel as if they were appreciated for their hard work?

Management – If multiple former employees point towards the same manager as a source of their issues, you may have a leadership problem on your hands.

Culture – Were they happy working for you? Were there aspects of the job and the atmosphere that caused stress or frustration?

Mental Health – Even the best compensation can’t make up for unbearable stress. Were workloads too heavy? Was there an unhealthy work environment for employees?

Safety – Did they feel that their safety was in danger as they carried out their responsibilities? If so, did they feel comfortable bringing their concerns to management? If they did speak to management, did they feel heard, and were any changes made?

Staff Interviews or Surveys
While current employees may feel more hesitant to air grievances, they can still offer valuable insight into the employee experience. While you may have workers willing to talk about their perceived issues, you may receive more thorough and honest feedback using anonymous surveys.
If you do choose to speak one-on-one with employees, avoid having interviews be conducted by their manager. If the problem is with management and leadership, they may not feel comfortable providing honest feedback.
Finally, if you do seek any feedback from current employees, ensure that their honesty is confidential. If any information shared in confidence becomes public knowledge traceable back to a specific employee, it can be a breach of trust and inhibit future feedback.
Employees leaving is a symptom of a problem, not the problem itself. While a high attrition rate can be concerning in any organization, it’s important to do the work and find out what’s actually causing the issue. Once you’ve identified areas for improvement, seek to make the necessary changes for your team.

There is no denying the necessity of personalization in email marketing. Personalization increases open rates, and it shows your audience that you acknowledge and understand their wants and needs. It leads to more engaged readers driven toward action, and it’s pretty central to an effective lead nurture strategy. According to Epsilon’s research, 80% of consumers…
The post What Is Email Personalization and Why Is it So Powerful? appeared first on Benchmark Email.

What tools do you use to automate?
submitted by /u/Signal-Garden-7919 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Alternative-Club-578 [link] [comments]