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Author: Franz Malten Buemann
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Maximize your audience growth in a FREE webinar Dec 7th
Learn how to grow your audience in a FREE webinar on December 7th. In this webinar you’ll learn:
Top email and influencer marketing trends for 2022 How to push your email strategy and create the ideal email narrative How to best leverage Influencer Marketing through your customers
Register today: https://app.livestorm.co/sendinblue/email-and-influencer-marketing-for-growth?type=detailed
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How to Determine the Best Length for Your Email Subject Lines
As a marketer, you work hard to write great copy and create compelling emails. But if you aren’t writing subject lines that encourage subscribers to read your messages, your campaigns could fall short.
More and more emails are opened on mobile devices, which typically show a smaller number of characters. With this in mind, you may wonder if your subject lines should be shorter to accommodate on-the-go subscribers.
Is there a secret to the perfect subject line length?
Every subscriber list is different, so the perfect subject line length depends on a variety of factors. But it’s possible to get insight into ideal lengths for your industry. Unlock those insights, and you’re bound to see increased engagement and performance from your marketing emails.
In this post, we’ll share some actionable tips for finding the correct email subject line length for your email marketing strategy.
Factors to consider when deciding your email subject line length
There’s really no such thing as a one-size-fits-all length. In fact, the ideal length of your subject line depends on a variety of factors.
1. Which devices and clients your emails are being read on
The number of emails opened on mobile devices has increased dramatically over the last decade. In 2021, mobile accounted for 41.6% of total opens. Yet, somehow, 1 in every 5 emails sent are still not optimized for mobile.
While mobile optimization has more to do with the code or template you’re using, it has implications for your subject line as well. Different devices will truncate your subject lines differently, and if you don’t test for them, you could end up with some painfully awkward results.
Luckily, Campaign Monitor’s Inbox Preview feature enables you to see previews of your email in over 25 different email clients before sending your campaign to ensure your email looks great in any inbox.When considering the subject line length that will work best for your marketing emails, consider using data to pinpoint subscriber devices. Are most of your subscribers opening emails on mobile, or are they sticking to their desktop?
Campaign Monitor users can easily find this information in your Campaign Monitor account, in the Campaign Reports section under Email Client Usage. This will help you optimize your subject line length.
Here are some 2021 statistics for the top 10 email devices and client including market share:Image source
Since most people are viewing emails on iPhones and Gmail, optimize your subject line length to between 41 characters (portrait view on an iPhone) to 70 characters for Gmail. You don’t want a broken experience because your subject line is too long.
2. How past subject lines have performed
It’s also a good idea to look at which subject lines have garnered high open rates in your past emails.
High open rates can occur because of deals you were offering, the time of day, or the copy and sentiment in the subject line itself.
Still, it’s worthwhile to take a look and see if any trends emerge from your email open rates and the length of the subject line.
So, what is the optimal email subject line length?
According to a study from Marketo, 41 characters, or 7 words, seems to be a sweet spot for email subject line length, which is about 10 characters less than the average subject line.Source
Here are a few email subject lines paired with their character length to give you an idea of what a 41 character-subject line looks like:Email Subject Line
Character Count
Work Can Wait – These Sales are THAT Good
41Make a Meatless Loaf Even Meat Lovers Will Love
47Cyber Monday For Those Procrastinators
387 Habits That’ll Make You the Leader Your Colleagues Aspire to Be
655 SEO Trends for 2019 | Mobile vs. Desktop Search | Win/Loss Analysis | SMB Expectations
88As you craft your email subject lines, remember when and how your subscribers are reading your emails.
If the majority of the opens are happening on iPhones, you’ll want to use shorter email subject lines to get the most impact. Additionally, keep your offer or CTA at the beginning of your subject line where it’s most likely to be seen. You can also use preheader text to add more context to your subject lines in the preview pane.9 email subject line best practices to utilize
Finding the ideal length for a subject line is an important step in your email marketing, but subject lines are not just about length. In order to see success, you’ll need to leverage general best practices.
1. Use different subject lines
If you use the same subject line over and over, it won’t excite your subscribers. So, rather than using “January 2021 company newsletter”, try to get more creative and encourage subscribers to open emails and see the latest and greatest information you have to offer.
2. Keep subject lines short
Short subject lines tend to win out. As discussed above, research shows around 41 characters is the optimal length for a subject line. Still, some marketing experts suggest going even shorter.
Backlinko founder Brian Dean says subject lines which on average do not exceed 16 characters have significantly higher open rates. He attributes this to two factors.
First, emails with shorter subject lines are more likely to be delivered. Second, brevity creates an air of mystery.
Per Dean’s thinking, the subject line “Are you available to meet today at 11?” (38 characters) doesn’t have quite the same impact as “Meeting at 11?” (14 characters).
All in all, keep your character count low when you can. And, imposing character limits for people sending email at your company could be a wise decision, too.
3. Test your subject lines across devices and clients
Like we mentioned earlier, you’ll want to make sure your subject lines display properly across devices. Sending test emails will help you make sure that your subject line reads well anywhere.
4. Consider your capitalization style
While you may not be giving much thought to how you’re capitalizing your email subject lines, you should be! There are four basic styles:How to write an email subject line (sentence case)
How to Write an Email Subject Line (title case)
how to write an email subject line (all lowercase)Some marketing experts such as Val Geisler attribute increased open rates to a more casual, personal feel. In that case, you might opt for sentence case or all lowercase for your subject lines.
5. Use personalization
Use personalization right in the subject line by including subscriber names. You can use many other personalization options based on subscriber data. This data can be collected through your sign-up form, or from other sources like Shopify or OptinMonster.Image Source
This is a powerful subject line because it’s short, asks a question, and ties to previous recipient behavior. Consider doing the same with your emails.
6. A/B test subject lines
You’ll never know what works best without trying different options, so A/B test your subject lines to find the best one. You can A/B test different lengths and different types of copy to get a good idea of what your email list responds to.7. Use emojis when appropriate
While the debate about emojis continues, the fact is they’re here to stay. Their judicious use in subject lines can set your emails apart in an inbox with seemingly endless stacked lines of text.
There are additional advantages provided by emojis. A majority of companies do not use them, and this may contribute to the higher response rate for emails that employ them. Plus, they create powerful emotive storytelling, perfect for the shorter lines of text on mobile devices.
8. Avoid spam filters
Every email which winds up in a spam folder is a missed opportunity for an open, clickthrough, and sales conversion. That’s why, according to extensive research was done by Yesware, you want to avoid using the following words in subject lines.There’s more to avoiding spam filters than word choice alone. (Using all capital letters will take you there, too.) No matter what, delete the spammy words and phrases above from your subject lines.
9. Use automation
Though this isn’t strictly related to subject lines, it’s worth noting that using automation in your email strategy is bound to increase your engagement metrics. Even simple automation steps like a welcome journey are effective ways to grab your subscribers’ list at the time they’re most engaged.
If you can play off of the timing or context of your automated email in your subject lines, then your results will only get better.
Wrap up
At the end of the day, the best email subject line length will vary from brand to brand. That means it’s best to test out different lengths to see what works for you.
If you leverage your past data and test your subject lines, you’ll be well on your way to knowing how long email subject lines should be to encourage subscribers to open and take action with your campaigns.
For more tips on writing email subject lines, check out our post on subject line best practices.
The post How to Determine the Best Length for Your Email Subject Lines appeared first on Campaign Monitor. -
Salesforce Developer Salary Guide 2021
Salesforce Developer salaries are a hot topic. The increasing demand for Salesforce Developers and the growing Salesforce economy means that these professionals find themselves in a good position. How much do Salesforce Developers earn? Read on to find out entry level Salesforce Developer salaries and… Read More
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How to Get Bitcoins: 6 Tried-and-True Methods
The conversation around Bitcoin has been brewing for years but it exploded in 2017 when the stock reached $19,000. It dipped back down for a few more years until it surged in 2020 and reached new peaks in 2021.
In the past, Bitcoin and other digital currencies were seen as extremely volatile, reserved for investors with extensive knowledge of the market and the world of crypto. Today, that idea has been relaxed a bit, as more governments and institutions recognize it.Today, the number of retail investors who want to get their hands on this valuable cryptocurrency is growing. In fact, a 2021 survey by the University of Chicago revealed that 14% of Americans invested in cryptocurrency in the past 12 months.
So let’s learn all about where you can get it and when it’s the right time to invest.Once you have your cryptocurrency, you need to store it in a Bitcoin wallet. Every wallet comes with private keys and addresses used to access the wallet, which can be internet-based or hardware-based.
A hot wallet is one that is connected to the internet, which makes it easy for investors to access their Bitcoin. However, it does pose a security risk, as you are susceptible to hacking and theft.
A cold wallet is one that isn’t connected to the internet, making it the safest way to store your currency. In this case, you print your private keys and addresses and store them somewhere, like a safe or safety deposit box. You can also store that information on a USB or hard drive.
Without your private keys and addresses, it’s impossible to access your Bitcoin. So, it’s imperative that you are careful about where you store this information.
Where to Get Bitcoins
How to Get Bitcoins Fast
These days, you can quickly and easily buy Bitcoins online or offline. It’s just a matter of choosing the right purchasing option for you.
Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Cryptocurrency exchanges are marketplaces where sellers trade cryptocurrencies in exchange for fiat money (i.e. government-issued currency like the euro) or other digital currencies.
Most exchanges accept bank transfers or credit card payments, and some even accept Paypal payments. They’ll also charge you a transaction fee for every trade you make.
You can choose from hundreds of crypto exchanges, but the most popular and reputable exchanges include Coinbase, Gemini, Binance.US, and Kraken.
Investment Brokerage Firms
An investment brokerage firm is a platform that allows investors to buy and sell stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Companies like Robinhood allow retail investors to trade and invest commission-free, making them highly popular. All you need to get started is an account and the money to buy and you’re good to go.
Payment Services
Recently, payment services like CashApp, Venmo, and Paypal have introduced new features to their online platforms that allow users to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies.
For instance, CashApp now has an entire tab dedicated to Bitcoin.The platform also offers Bitcoin Boost, an opportunity to earn Bitcoin on purchases made with the CashApp card. Think cashback, except crypto.
So, there’s more than just one way to get Bitcoin on these platforms.
Bitcoin ATMs, Stores, and Merchants
If you’d rather buy Bitcoins in person, you have several options to choose from:Bitcoin ATMs, which work very similarly to a regular cash-based ATM. You can find one near you through Coin ATM Radar.
Retail stores, which sell and buy Bitcoin. Visit LibertyX and CoinMap to find ones in your region.
Peer-to-peer, if you’re interested in buying Bitcoin directly from another person. Websites like LocalBitcoins can help you find people who are willing to exchange Bitcoin for cash.
Currently, there are very few banks that allow the trade and storage of cryptocurrency, including online-only banks Ally and USAA.
How to Get Bitcoins for Free
The examples outlined below are all examples of Bitcoin faucets, which are platforms that offer small amounts of Bitcoin in exchange for completing a task.
While they won’t get you a ton of bitcoins quickly, you can accumulate some over time and use them as a way to learn more about the cryptocurrency.
1. Play Mobile or Online Games to Earn Bitcoins
One of the most entertaining and fun ways to earn free Bitcoins is by playing mobile or online games. That’s right – you can play games on your phone or computer and actually get paid in Bitcoin.
Some serve a lot of advertisements to their users. So, to avoid the ads, you can join a Bitcoin casino, where you bet your own money or Bitcoin on traditional casino games, sports matches, and lotteries to potentially win a higher payout in Bitcoin.
2. Do Odd Jobs Online to Earn Bitcoins
Another way to earn free Bitcoins is by completing tasks on websites. Some companies will pay you in Bitcoin to test their websites, take their surveys, retweet their posts, and complete other small tasks.
There are also websites that let people offer small Bitcoin rewards to the person who can give them the best answer to one of their questions.
You can find odd jobs that pay you in Bitcoin on Cointiply.
3. Write About Cryptocurrency to Earn Bitcoins
Certain cryptocurrency blogs, news outlets, and forums will pay you in Bitcoin to contribute your insights and write for them if you have a lot of knowledge about the industry.
Popular cryptocurrency forums, like Publish0x, reward users for reading and writing articles relating to Bitcoin.
Image Source
On this site, users can earn Bitcoin along with other cryptocurrencies. They can also give tips to authors they enjoy.
Is now the time to invest in Bitcoin?
This answer to this question will vary greatly depending on your financial goals and your risk level.
For instance, younger people tend to take on riskier investments as they have more time to wait out the market while older investors tend to be more conservative.
Cryptocurrencies are still considered volatile in the market, which has led financial advisors to call it a speculative asset – i.e., one that is very risky but can have a huge return on investment. That’s why they recommend only allocating a small portion of your portfolio to Bitcoin.
With any financial decision, consult an advisor who can offer tailored advice and guide you on the best moves to make.
One thing that’s clear is that Bitcoin is more popular than ever and it’s not going away anytime soon.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. -
How to Create a Product Launch Email [Outlines + Templates]
There are few times more exciting in a company than during a product launch. Anticipation brews and a sense of optimism emerges around the prospect of a growth in market share.
Still, a question always arises when a new product launches: do enough people know about this launch for it to be successful?
There are multiple avenues to communicate through during a product launch — ads, social media, PR, and blog promotion, to name a few. Yet, one of the most underrated and effective communication methods to alert internal and external stakeholders is a product launch email.Not only do product launch emails make your customers aware of the product launch, but they also communicate vital information about the launch to those inside of your company.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps for writing three different types of product launch emails, including offering suggestions for your product launch email subject lines and outlining the ideal product launch email sequence.
Featured Resource: Product Marketing Email Templates [Download Now]HubSpot’s Free Product Marketing Kit is full of the organizational templates you’ll need to spread the word about your product, including email templates. Why waste time starting from scratch? Click here to download the templates.
Internal Product Launch Email
You’ll want to share an internal product launch email with your entire company on either the day of or prior to your product launch. With this email, you’ll want to turn all of the employees at your company into an enthusiastic, well-informed, word-of-mouth marketing team by providing them with:An overview of the product
Why employees should be excited about it
“Lazy copy” for email and social media that employees can copy and pasteHere’s an outline of an internal product launch email. You can also download it as a template with more details.
1. Subject line and preview text.
Keep the subject line at or under 12 words. We’ll provide a list of examples below.
2. Greeting and tl;dr.
Just like you, the employees at your company are busy, so capture their attention with a quick hello and a 1-2 sentence overview on the product launch.
3. What is it?
Give your readers the very basic info on your product, like what it’s called, what it does, when it’s available to the public, and how much it costs. You should also include an image so readers have a visual reference.
4. Why it matters.
Why should your employees be excited about this launch? You can go a little more in-depth here, so explain what void this product fills in the market and what opportunity you’re seizing on to expand your market share, delight more users, and expand your customer base.
Some questions you can answer in this section are:Does this update address a common customer complaint?
Are you bringing your product up to par for the market you’re in?
Do you have statistics or revenue projections to prove the importance?5. How it works.
In this section, give a brief overview of the steps required to get or use this product/feature. How do your customers sign up? Are there any usage limitations? Anticipate frequently asked questions — particularly from salespeople, marketers, account managers, and support reps — and try to reduce confusion upfront.
6. Who it’s for.
If you haven’t already covered it, say who the intended audience for this product is, or if any users will automatically see this new feature. This section is particularly important for regional or language-specific products.
7. Where to go with questions.
Provide the contact info and name of the person or people who are best equipped to answer any questions about the product, its launch, or its promotion.
8. Lazy copy.
You’ll want to make it as simple as possible for employees to share the product launch over email or social media. Provide sample text and URLs that can be copied and pasted — or better yet, pre-made social links from a site like Share Link Generator.
Here’s an example of lazy copy for every situation.Twitter: We’ve just launched [Product Name] here @[Company Name]! This new feature will let you [List Main Benefit]. Click here to learn more about it [Insert URL].
LinkedIn: It’s an exciting day here at [Company Name]! Today, we’re announcing our launch of [Product Name] – a new product that [List One or Two Major Benefits or Features].We’re thrilled to finally share this with our customers. Learn more at our website, and reach out to me if you have any questions about the new product! [Insert Product Page URL]
Email:Product Launch Email Templates
Remember, you can save time by using product launch planning and email templates. You can download free product marketing email templates here in our Product Marketing Go-To-Market Kit. You and your team can work together to make an exciting product launch campaign if you take advantage of these tools.
So when you create or find the template that’s right for you, add in your product’s information and get your network buzzing about it.
Internal Product Launch Email Subject Lines
Need a good email subject line for your internal product launch announcement email? Try one of these on for size.It’s Time! [Product] is now live. Click to learn more!
We just launched [Product] – And we need your help
[NOW LIVE]: [Product] is available to the public
[Product] launches today. Here’s what you need to know.
The moment you’ve all been waiting for: [Product] is here.
[PLEASE READ]: Everything you need to know about [Product].
[Product] goes live today. Help us spread the word!Internal Product Launch Update Email
The internal product launch update email is best shared with direct stakeholders in the product launch. For example: product marketers, product managers, designers, social, and PR.
These emails should be sent routinely leading up to the official product launch (every week, every other week, etc.) and provide readers with actionable steps on what has happened since your last email, what needs to be done, and whether or not you’re on track for launch.
Here’s an outline of what your internal product launch update email should look like. You can also download it as a template with more details.
1. Subject line and preview text.
Keep the subject line at or under 12 words. We’ll provide a list of examples below.
2. Days until product launch.
Reiterate the scheduled date of the product launch in addition to how many days remain.
3. Major updates.
List out any major updates that have occurred between the previous email and this one. For example: a bug was fixed, final designs were approved, or you secured placement in a leading circuit on announcement day.
4. Resources.
Link out to shared documents, the campaign planning spreadsheets, or any other resources that your team may need to reference this week.
5. Progress against goals.
Remind your team of the overarching campaign goals in this section and provide a status update (complete, meeting, exceeding, or lagging).
6. Updates by the team.
Run through brief status updates and developments from each team. This is also a great place to share each team’s focus for the upcoming week.
7. Questions or comments.
Encourage recipients to reach out to you directly with any questions.
Internal Product Launch Update Email Subject Line Examples
Choose a subject line for your internal product launch update emails and make it the standard for whenever you send out your updates.[Date] Bi-weekly [Product Name] Update
[#] Days Until [Product]: This Week’s Update
[Product] Launch Status: Today’s Action Items
New from [Company]: A Solution for [Main Problem]
[Product]: A Solution to Your [Problem]
Available Now: [Product], the Solution to [Problem]
[Product] is Now Available. Here’s How You Can Get it.
Problems With [Problem]? Try [Product] – New from [Company]
At Last – A Solution to Your [Problem]
Meet [Product]: A New Product to Help You [Benefit]External Product Launch Email
The time has come to share your exciting new product with the world.
If you have an established list of loyal contacts in your CRM, create a list of recipients you think would benefit from the product launch email. While you can send out a mass email to all of your contacts, it makes sense to group your contacts together by their lifecycle stage or their interests so that you’re prioritizing customers who would be most interested or ready for your new product.
Here’s how you might want to format an email to your contacts to encourage them to buy or learn more about your new product.
1. Subject line and preview text.
Keep the subject line at or under 12 words. We’ll provide a list of examples below.
2. Greeting and tl;dr.
Like your fellow employees, your customers are also very busy. Don’t bury the lede — start the email off with the big news! Buzzwords like “new,” “big news,” or “now available” would be good to implement here, alongside a quick overview of what the product is called, what it does, and an image of the product.
3. Overview of the product.
Provide a high-level summary of what the product is, why it was made, and what it does.
4. Key features.
List the key features or benefits of this offer. If you have a product demo video, you may want to link to it here.
5. Call-to-action.
Leave your contacts with an actionable next step. Do you want them to reply to you with questions? Sign up for a demo? Check out the new product page on your website? Whatever your desired next step is, make it abundantly clear with a link or by bolding the action.
External Product Launch Email Subject Lines Examples
Want to grab the attention of your contacts? Try one of these product launch email subject lines:New from [Company]: A Solution for [Main Problem]
[Product]: A Solution to Your [Problem]
Available Now: [Product], the Solution to [Problem]
[Product] is Now Available. Here’s How You Can Get it.
Problems With [Problem]? Try [Product] – New from [Company]
At Last – A Solution to Your [Problem]
Meet [Product]: A New Product to Help You [Benefit]Product Launch Email Sequence
To spread the word for your product launch more efficiently, consider enrolling your contacts into an email sequence in your email marketing software. Here are the steps you might want to follow:
Internal Product Launch Email Sequence
1. Introductory email: Alert the employees the product development is in progress and why.2. Pre-launch email: Let employees know when the product is set to be launched and what is expected of them on launch day.3. Launch day email: On the day of the product launch, alert all employees the product is available to the public and provide share links.4. Follow-up email: After some time has passed, send employees an update of your performance against goals, and a reminder of how employees can help the product launch be more successful.
External Product Launch Email Sequence
When you want to build anticipation among your contacts, consider an external product launch email sequence. This can be used to gradually increase your prospects’ interests before and after the product comes out.
Remember: you may only want to enroll people in this sequence that meet certain qualification criteria.
1. Pre-Announcement Email.
This email comes once you feel the product is in a good place and you’re comfortable announcing its release date to the public. It should include a basic description of the product in addition to an expected time frame. We suggest not identifying an official launch date unless you are absolutely confident the date you have chosen is accurate — you never know what could go wrong between now and then, so it’s best to play it safe.
2. Announcement Email.
This email should be the official email announcement of your product. We’ve outlined what should be included in this email in the section above, but remember to keep the content in this email short, informative, and actionable.
3. Follow-Up Email.
This email should be sent to the contacts you feel would be a good fit for your new product but didn’t follow up with your original email. Kindly remind them that you think they would benefit from this new product and you’re excited to hear if they’re interested.
When building excitement for your new product, having this sequence can keep your customers waiting in anticipation of your next best thing. Take a look below at an example of a real, recent product launch.
Email to Customer about New Product Example
Samsung has been exceptionally successful in advertising its new Galaxy Fold cell phones, and its emails have been building suspense for them for over a year.
This email example serves as one of its pre-announcements, allowing excited customers to pre-order the device. Previous emails they’ve sent have included the specifications and features of the Fold, and this email gives a time frame of when customers should expect its arrival.You can keep it simple as shown above, or get creative in your new product emails — just make sure it’s conveying the information your customers want to know.
Ready, Set, Launch! (Your Next Product)
Build your email marketing campaigns in a way that appeals to your own internal team, and your customers in search of the next best thing. We hope you can implement some tips from this guide into your marketing, and wish you the best of luck in your next product launch. -
What Is Servant Leadership?
Leadership looks different for everyone.
Some choose to use a democratic style, where they make final decisions after getting input from team members. Some are individualists, focused on personal development and improvement, while others act as a coach that works to help employees develop their skills and build strong teams.
Although different in practice, most leadership styles have in common that the leader is a force of authority at their business — entirely different from servant leadership, where authority is purposely left by the wayside.
In this post, learn about servant leadership, its main characteristics, and how it can benefit your organization.What is servant leadership?
Servant leadership is the idea that a leader’s primary goal is to serve their employees and give them the support they need to develop their skills and succeed at their jobs. This differs from traditional leadership in that a leader doesn’t enforce their authority or treat others as subordinates.
Robert K. Greenleaf first coined the term servant leader in his 1970 essay The Servant as Leader. In the essay, he says that the servant leader “Focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong” and that they “Put the needs of others first and help people develop and perform as highly as possible.”
Essentially, the leader (a boss, CEO, or any type of executive at a business) exists to serve the people that work for the company. In turn, employees supported by a leader with their best interest at heart are more motivated, empowered, high-performing, and able to provide customers with the best possible experience.
Servant Leadership Characteristics
In his essay, Greenleaf outlines ten fundamental principles of servant leadership, which we’ll discuss below.1. Listening
Servant leaders must be good listeners. It helps them get to know the people that work for the business and what they’re all about.
With listening, servant leaders will discover insight about employees that will help them best support their needs, whether it’s understanding areas for personal development or simply learning how employees feel at work and if anything needs to be done to improve their experience.
2. Empathy
Servant leaders need to be empathetic as it’s one of the best ways to help employees grow to be the best they can be.
For example, an employee may express a desire to develop a particular skill, and they want to feel as though you’re listening to them and understanding their needs. Empathy helps with this, as you’ll be able to relate to their interest and ask further questions that help you help them move forward.
Empathy is also critical in servant leadership when it comes to correcting behaviors. For example, say that an employee could not meet a goal at the end of the quarter. With traditional leadership, you may tell the employee that they must perform better without giving actionable advice that will help them do so.
Instead, a servant leader would be empathetic towards the situation and want to understand the roadblocks that caused them to struggle. Of course, you’d still like to ensure that it wouldn’t happen again, but you’d work alongside the employee to guarantee they have the tools to perform better and meet their goals next quarter.
3. Healing
Greenleaf says that servant leaders must understand the importance of healing as people aren’t always used to working in situations where their leader doesn’t force their authority and require compliance.
A servant leader needs to understand that they may need to work with employees to become comfortable with the process and create a working environment that builds trust and helps them be comfortable with your leadership style.
4. Self-awareness
Servant leaders must be self-aware because they need to understand their position and perception within their team. For example, if you’re enforcing your authority, you’re not a servant leader, and you’re likely pushing employees away. Therefore, it’s essential to be aware of the space you take up within your team on a day-to-day basis.
Self-awareness also helps servant leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses when assisting employees to be the best they can be. For example, if you receive feedback that you’re not the best at communicating, you should identify your weakness and work to improve, as employees can’t succeed if they don’t understand you.
5. Persuasion
Servant leaders use persuasion instead of power and authority to influence their teams and get everyone on the same page. You should convince others and get buy-in without forcing compliance or telling people that they simply have to do something because you said they have to.
6. Conceptualization
Conceptualization means that servant leaders can develop a direction for their teams that will bring company success.
This key characteristic directly relates to other skills on this list. For example, suppose a servant leader conceptualizes a goal for employees. In that case, they should be able to persuade without forcing compliance and provide employees with everything they need to help actualize the goal and be there for them throughout the process.
7. Foresight
The Oxford Language Dictionary defines foresight as the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future. With servant leadership, this means using historical performance and current objectives to predict future outcomes and what employees will need to help them succeed.
For example, if your teams have historically struggled with a particular task and that task is required to meet an upcoming objective, your foresight should let you know that you’d want to be present to assist when employees are undertaking that task, and maybe provide extra resources to ensure people don’t get stuck.
8. Stewardship
Stewardship is synonymous with accountability in servant leadership. The leader can take responsibility for their actions and understand how their support for their employees contributes to the overall performance of their teams.
9. Commitment to the Growth of People
Servant leaders want employees to be equipped with the tools and resources they need to succeed and feel motivated to help the company succeed. As such, servant leaders must be committed to the growth and development of people.
In practice, this can look like ensuring employees have the proper training for their required duties, planning development opportunities, or even checking in with employees to understand their career goals and figuring out how to help them get there.
10. Building community
Workplace communities foster a sense of trust and togetherness, which helps people feel like they are working together to meet a common goal. As a servant leader, you’d want to ensure that your workplace feels like a community by building relationships with others and encouraging people to build relationships with their coworkers.
As mentioned above, servant leadership is significantly different from traditional leadership styles. The leader is not an authoritative force but more of a collaborator that works alongside employees to help them succeed. It may be helpful to have some examples of what servant leadership can look like in action, so we’ll discuss some below.
Servant Leadership Examples
Leading by Example
A servant leader is willing to do anything that they ask their employees to do.
So, let’s say that employees are rushing to meet quotas for the month. Rather than instructing employees to just work harder, a servant leader will sit down with them and help them get there. Maybe they take on some tasks, motivate employees, and provide actionable advice that helps them meet their targets.
Collaboration
A servant leader sits down with employees and asks them to share feedback about business processes and whether they help them perform their duties. The servant leader actively listens to feedback, learns from what they’ve heard, and works to make necessary changes to help employees seamlessly do their work.
Empathy
A servant leader cares about their employees as people. If someone comes to them and lets them know that they’re going through something, the servant leader doesn’t tell them to check their feelings at the door or inform them that they better not fall short of expectations.
Instead, they work with the employee to develop a plan that will allow them to succeed despite what they’re going through.
Servant Leadership Can Help Companies Succeed
Although different from traditional styles, servant leaders can build motivated and capable teams that succeed in business.
If you’re a leader looking to try their hand at this leadership style, make sure that you understand who your employees are as people, provide them with the tools and support they need to succeed, and act as an ever-present resource, no matter what they need. -
[Webinar] How to Conquer Labor Shortages with Contact Center Technology
From retail to tourism to food service, almost every sector is currently experiencing major labor shortages, and contact centers are no exception. Though contact center technology has revolutionized the way agents are able to work remotely, managers and directors are still catching up when it comes to finding and implementing strategies to balance staffing needs.
One of the sectors that has taken a big hit throughout the labor shortage is childcare. A reduction in available childcare workers has left many contact center agents without adequate care for the kids, forcing them to leave their positions. The labor shortage really is cyclical and one that successful contact centers can’t afford to ignore.
As labor markets become more constrained, wages are skyrocketing in an effort to acquire and retain more employees. Approximately 80% of a call center’s budget is directed towards staffing, which means any kind of increase in wages will have drastic impacts on all contact centers navigating the labor shortage. All these changes are especially difficult to cope with considering the many challenges the pandemic brought about in 2020 and 2021.
Ensure Your Contact Center Thrives Throughout the Labor Shortage
So, what’s the solution? It’s multi-faceted and a little complex, but we’re excited to walk you through it during our webinar. Shai Berger, CEO of Fonolo, will be discussing how to handle all the curveballs that come with this labor shortage, and ways you can protect your contact center in the short-term and over time.
Here’s what we’ll be discussing:Coping strategies for staffing shortages in the contact center.
How to safeguard your contact center from high turnover.
Contact center technology to help manage call volume.
Plus, so much more.Who should attend:
VPs & Directors of Contact Centers
VPs & Directors of Customer Experience
VPs & Directors of Customer ServiceJoin Fonolo on Thursday, December 9th, at 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT for the live webinar and Q&A.
Speakers:
Shai Berger, Founder and CEO, Fonolo
Shai is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fonolo, a leading provider of cloud-based call-back solutions. As an innovator in the space, Shai is on a clear mission to educate the call center industry on how to improve the customer experience.The post Blog first appeared on Fonolo. -
Employee NPS: recognizing the power of promoters within your company
Employee NPS often gets unnoticed by leaders focused exclusively on driving CX related impacts. However, neglecting employee perspectives on their overall experience might cost businesses in the long run. One of the reasons companies should implement employee NPS as their standard practice is the increasing importance of employer brand, and employee value proposition. Put differently,…
The post Employee NPS: recognizing the power of promoters within your company appeared first on Customer Experience Magazine. -
Customer service is free
Most large organizations would disagree.
They hire cheap labor to answer the phone. They install recordings to mollify people who are on hold for hours. They measure the cost of the call center and put loopholes in the warranty.
When you see customer service as a cost center, all of these steps make sense. Any money spent lowering costs seems to raise profits.
But customer service is actually a profit center, for four reasons:
First, because the customer who calls you or shows up at the adjustments window is fully enrolled. Unlike just about every other moment you’ve had with them, in this moment, they are paying attention, leaning into the situation and on high alert. Everything you do here, unlike just about every other marketing interaction you have, will go on your permanent record.
Second, because your competitors have foolishly decided to treat this interaction as a cost, the chances that you can dramatically overdeliver are pretty good. You can’t make a car that’s ten times better, but you can easily produce customer service for your car customers that’s ten times better than what most manufacturers deliver.
And third, because in our industrialized economy, people love to tell stories about service. And so the word spreads (or doesn’t) based on what you’re about to do.
Finally, it’s been demonstrated again and again that the most valuable customers are the loyal ones. While your promotional team is out there making noise to get you new customers, you’d be much better off turning your existing customers into repeat customers and ambassadors.
And so, the money you spend on customer service isn’t simply free. It actually repays you many times over.
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No code for Marketing Agencies: How to Benefit from No code Automation
You know that your clients are looking for the best results, the fastest turnaround, and the lowest cost possible—an almost impossible combination if you are running a marketing agency. So your goal, as an agency owner, is to optimize processes and offload as much routine as possible. Then, with all of the saved time, you can focus on the core of your business, getting traffic, leads, awareness, and a higher ROI for your clients. No-code can become your magic helper in automating your processes, managing clients’ projects, and maximizing profit by building simple growth projects with no-code tools. Let’s learn how no-code can benefit marketing agencies. Read more: https://welovenocode.com/marketing-guides/tpost/m217feokd1-no-code-for-marketing-agencies-how-to-be
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