Author: Franz Malten Buemann

Celebrate good times — c’mon! The milestone email is one of the different types of emails you should be sending, and it’s the easiest and most fun message to send out to your customers. You’re celebrating them for doing business with you, and you’re celebrating important company milestones along with them.  Many businesses don’t know…
The post The Art of Sharing Milestone Emails with Your Subscribers appeared first on Benchmark Email.

Hello fellow social media managers, I wonder what’s the best tool for automating followers for social media? I tried Jarvee but I’m having errors while installing. If there are any preferred tools to use please don’t hesitate to share. This helps a lot of freelancers and agency’s. Thank you so much!
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Hubspot is on the cheaper end of automation tools that I’m looking at but it doesn’t feel like the best tool for a credit union because most orgs use Hubspot for content marketing to collect leads, where those leads are put into drip campaigns and later followed up with by sales. This flow isn’t traditional for a credit union since most of our marketing efforts via email would be to existing members. My question is, has anyone had success using Hubspot as a credit union email automation platform? If so, could you report on ROI?
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It’s no secret that data can be very powerful — when you can actually understand what it’s telling you, that is.

It’s not easy to get clear takeaways by looking at a slew of numbers and stats. You need to have the data presented in a logical, easy-to-understand way so you can apply your learnings in an effective way. That’s where data visualization comes in.

In this article, we’ll offer you applicable ways to ensure your data visualization is effective, and provide examples for inspiration along the way.

What is data visualization?
Data visualization allows you to organize data in a way that’s both compelling and easy to digest.
It’s about representing data in a visual context, such as a chart or a map, to help anyone viewing it better understand the significance of that data.
How does data visualization work?
Whereas data shared via text can be confusing (not to mention bland), data represented in a visual format can help people extract meaning from that information more quickly and easily.
Data visualization allows you to expose patterns, trends, and correlations that may otherwise go undetected, too.
Static vs. Interactive Data Visualization
Data visualization can be static or interactive. For centuries, people have been using static data visualization like charts and maps.
Interactive data visualization is a little bit newer: It lets people drill down into the dirty details of these charts and graphs using their computers and mobile devices, and then interactively change which data they see and how it’s processed.
Time Series Visualization
In addition to static and interactive data visualization, you may also hear the term time series visualization. Time series visualization is what it sounds like — visuals that track data, or performance, over a period of time.
This is important because a major reason why people want to focus on data visualization is to show changes in variables over time.
Time Series Data Visualization Examples
There are many ways to use time-series data visualization — you’ll learn more about these below, but here’s a quick list to give you a better understanding of which visuals are considered time series visuals.

Line chart
Bar chart
Area chart
Bullet graph

Data Visualization Best Practices
While determining how you’ll visualize your data, one of the first things you’ll want to do is keep the following best practices in mind.

Choose the best visual for your data and its purpose.
Ensure your data is easily understandable and viewable.
Offer necessary context for your audience in and around your visual.
Keep your visual as simple and straightforward as possible.
Educate your audience with your visuals.

Featured Guide: An Introduction to Data Visualization

Learn how to apply data visualization best practices in your marketing with this free guide.

1. Line Chart
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Use a line chart to display your data over the course of time to view trends and intervals. You can do this with a single, or multiple, data point(s).

2. Bar Chart
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Use a bar chart to compare groups or categories while also displaying clear values.
Wondering how you could use this? Say you’ve been using Casted for your content marketing and need to report on which medium is performing best. You can pull data reports from the dashboard to visualize the data for key stakeholders.
3. Scatter Chart
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Use a scatter chart to show the values of two different variables as points on a chart.

4. Area Chart
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Use an area chart in a similar way to how you’d use a line chart.
The difference is that the area below the line is filled with color and/ or texture with an area chart. Both area and line charts display the evolution of a value.
5. Map
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Use a map to display data that are geographically located and to show the distribution and proportion of data in specific areas.
6. Indicator

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Use an indicator if you want to display your data with visuals like a gauge or ticker which will clearly show which direction things are moving over time.
7. Pivot Table
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Use a pivot table to summarize a large amount of information while specifically highlighting the most critical data for audience members.

8. Bullet Graph
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Use a bullet graph or chart in a similar way to how you’d use a bar chart. The main difference is that a bullet graph allows you to include more detailed information and data in a way that doesn’t look or feel cluttered.
9. Box Plot

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Use a box plot to view the distribution of your data — you’ll have one box plot for each attribute you’re displaying.
10. Matrix

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Use a matrix to display the relationships between hundreds or thousands of data points, variables, and more to understand their interactions all in one location.
Ready to feel inspired? Let’s take a look at some great examples of interactive and static data visualization.

Examples of Data Visualization
Below are 16 examples of data visualization, split into two major sections: interactive and static data visualization.
Examples of Interactive Data Visualization
1. Why Buses Bunch

Here’s an example of a complex data set boiled down in a way that looks and feels like a game. In this visualization, Setosa is showing how “bus bunching” happens, i.e. when a bus gets delayed and later causes multiple buses to arrive at a single stop at the same time.

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Telling this story in numbers alone would be pretty difficult — instead, they turn it into an interactive game that makes the data easier to understand. While the buses rotate along a route, you can click and hold a button to delay a bus. Then, all you have to do is watch to see how even a short delay causes the buses to bunch together.
2. Languages in the World

This interactive by DensityDesign introduces the non-linguist to the many world languages. All 2,678 of them.

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This piece allows you to explore common language families, see which languages are most frequently spoken, and view where languages are spoken around the world.
This is visual storytelling: taking an in-depth subject and breaking it down in an easy-to-understand way.
3. Percent of U.S. Population by Age Group

This is an example of how to present a single data set in a compelling way. Pew Research created an animated GIF composite to show shifts in population demographics over time. It’s an effective way to tell a larger story in a neat package.

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Plus, this type of micro-content is easy to share on social or embed in blogs, extending the content’s reach.
If you want to make a GIF of your own using Photoshop, here’s a step-by-step tutorial.
4. The Complete History of the NFL

In this interactive visualization below, an “Elo rating” — a simple measure of strength based on game-by-game results — has been calculated for every game in the history of the National Football League (NFL).

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That’s over 30,000 ratings in total. Viewers can compare each team’s Elo to see how each team performed across decades of play.
5. U.S. Thanksgiving on Google Flights

This visual is powered by Google Trends. It tracked flights as they flew to, from, and across the United States on the day before Thanksgiving.

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The visualization starts at the very beginning of the day and plays like a movie as time goes on, showing flights moving around the country.
Without showing any numbers besides the time, viewers can see which times were most popular for international flights, domestic flights, and flights to/ from different hubs around the country.
6. What’s Really Warming the World?

Ever heard a version of the advice, “Don’t simply show the data tell a story with it”? That’s exactly what this visualization from Bloomberg Business does — and it’s the interactive part that makes the story move along from beginning to end. The visual disproves theories that claim that global warming can be explained by natural causes.
The first thing you’ll see is the observed temperature as it’s risen from 1880 to present day.

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As you scroll down, the visualization takes you through exactly how much different factors contribute to global warming in comparison to what’s been observed, adding a richer layer of storytelling. The conclusion the authors want viewers to draw is made very clear.
7. Most Valuable Sports Franchises

Here’s an example of telling a deeper story by adding data.

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The interactive visual lets users see the number of years each team has competed, as well as the number of championships won. This offers a more comprehensive view of each team’s history and success as a franchise.
8. U.S. Wind Map

Here’s a visual similar that shows the wind speeds and directions in the U.S. in real-time back in 2015.

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It’s a great example of intuitive design: Speed is represented by lines moving slowly or quickly, and direction is represented by which way the lines are moving. It’s immediately clear what the general trends are without any need for numbers unless you click into the map itself. Plus, capping the number of variables at two makes it even easier to follow.
Examples of Static Data Visualization
9) Where News Audiences Fit on the Political Spectrum

This visual shows data organized on a distribution plot — this is an effective visual choice because it allows viewers to see where each media outlet lies on a spectrum.

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On a spectrum, the distance between each media outlet is significant. If these outlets were just listed one after the other in a table, viewers wouldn’t be able to see where each one stood in context.
10. The Daily Routines of Famous Creative People

Using information from the book Daily Rituals by Mason Currey, the site showcases the daily schedules of famous creatives broken down by time and activity.

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Not only is this an example of engaging data (you can explore the schedules by individual activity), it’s also an effective editorial piece for a brand.
11. The Year in News

Echelon Insights created this visual to depict the most talked-about news stories of 2014 on Twitter.
What do 184.5 million tweets look like? Cool spin art!

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12. The Depth of the Problem

When you want to illustrate scale, static data visualization can be a great way to make your point. The infographic below from The Washington Post is incredibly long … and that’s on purpose.
In this case, they’re showing how crazy far a deep-sea signal from an airplane can be detected by comparing that depth to tall buildings, the maximum depth of known mammals, the depth of the Titanic wreck, and so on.

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It’s a great use of simple visuals and color gradients. Finally, adding data to a news story (in this case, the missing Malaysian airliner) provides necessary context.
13. Funding the Final Frontier

While the infographic above is pretty simple, there are ways to create well-designed infographics that deliver a large amount of data. The secret? A simple and clean format that makes it easy for readers to understand the data.

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This infographic, created by GOOD Magazine and Column Five, breaks down NASA’s five-year budget to show how and where the money will be spent. Plus, it has an on-theme design — an all-around win.
14. Caritas Kontaktladen Annual Report

Not all data visualizations need to be animated. When real-world data is visualized with real-life examples, the results can be stunning. The designer of this visual took a unique approach to the data contained in the annual report.

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The organization provides support to drug addicts in Austria, so Luttenberger focused on communicating the mission through real-life visuals. For example, this shopping cart visualization represents how much of life’s necessities a welfare recipient can afford each day.
15. Austria Solar Annual Report

While there are many ways to visualize data, using the information subject to actually create the data visualization can be pretty profound.

This annual report from Austria Solar uses actual solar power to bring the company’s data to life through solar-activated inks on the page.
The good examples of data visualization above are great to reference while you develop your approach. However, it’s also important we consider the less effective ways to go about data visualization so you know what to avoid — so, let’s cover some bad examples next.

Bad Data Visualization Examples
There are many ways in which data visualization can go wrong.
For instance, look at this data visualization example of MLS salaries in 2013. The sheer amount of information on this chart makes it difficult to read.

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Additionally, the scale of the variables requires audience members to zoom in significantly to read the data. Some of the boxes that are being used to depict data appear to be vertical while most are horizontal — this also makes the information confusing to read.
When you include a number of completely different variables within a single visual, it also becomes complicated for audience members to understand — the following chart is an example of this.

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Something else you’ll want to do is make sure you’re not making your visual more complicated than it needs to be. For example, this chart has a number of variables that are depicted by 3D bars. This graph doesn’t need to be 3D — in fact, it simply makes the information more difficult to understand and view.

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Lastly, let’s review some data visualization tools to help make this process simpler.

Data Visualization Tools
There are a number of data visualization resources available today but the following list is here to help get you started. Don’t be afraid to test out a few options to determine which option suits your needs (and data) best.
1. HubSpot
HubSpot offers several options for data visualization, specifically within Reports. You can create graphs and charts in many ways depending on your preference.
There’s also a Dashboard and Reporting add-on that can ease the process of data visualization. Lastly, HubSpot allows you to manage your data and dashboards, as well as customize them, in a way that suits your specific needs.
2. Tableau Desktop
Tableau Desktop’s data visualization software offers live analytics with interactive dashboards so you’re able to easily spot trends, patterns, and insights.
There are easy-to-make maps, indicators, and many more visuals, as well as straightforward analytics which allow you to derive actionable information from calculations, reference lines, and forecasts as a result of your visuals.
3. Chartio
Chartio’s data visualization tools offer users 15 types of charts to choose from with multiple variations, and even more options if you know how to use data programming languages.
With Chartio, you can bring all your data together from locations like Amazon Redshift, browse your data with the Visual SQL solution, create and manage customized charts and visuals, and easily share them (via web page, Slack, PDF reports for email, etc.).
4. Databox
Databox provides a number of ways to upload your data and efficiently create visuals to derive conclusions.
There are over 70 integrations that can help you quickly and easily create visuals with pre-built dashboards and reports. You can also create custom metrics. Databox then allows you to connect to Google Sheets or an SQL database, or you can push it via API to view and share your data.
5. Google Chart Tools
Google Chart Tools allow you to visualize live data on your website (and mobile) with the help of a number of interactive, customizable charts and data tools. The most common way to use Google Charts is with simple JavaScript that you embed in your web page. And by using the DataTable class, you can easily switch between chart types.
Grow Better With Data Visualization
With data visualization, you’ll be able to identify, discuss, and act on insights in an easier and more effective way.
So, look to the examples above for inspiration (and as a reference for what to avoid, too!) and experiment with the many tools available to determine what works best for your needs and goals.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2015 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

The past year and a half has shown many of us that small businesses are too often the unsung heroes of our world. For almost 11 years now, we’ve remained committed to serving small businesses at Buffer. Earlier this year, we decided to make an expanded effort to help small businesses by making something even more accessible for people starting out and going broader in the types of problems we help solve.  
Today, we’re launching Start Page by Buffer for anyone who wants to create a beautiful, mobile-friendly landing page in minutes and update it in seconds, and it’s free.
We’ve built Buffer’s publishing, analytics, and engagement features with small businesses in mind. Now, we’re exploring something adjacent to social media to help with another big challenge we know small businesses face — properly leveraging that one key link that we all get on our social media profiles.  
There are a large number of link-in-bio tools available but we wanted to build something different, something that gives small businesses and individual creators the flexibility and power to create a beautiful page to showcase their brand through products, content, events, or announcements, all from one link.  
Start Page lets you quickly generate a landing page and URL for your business, no matter what type of business you have. Combined with our social media tools, Start Page creates a powerful toolset to start marketing your business.
How Start Page works
Simply go to buffer.com/start-page to begin building your Start Page, if you don’t yet have a Buffer account, you can set one up for free.  
You can start adding boxes for text, images, videos, social links, and more, right into our editor to create the layout you want, or you can choose from one of our pre-made templates. From there, you can customize page colors and style as well as add your own images, GIFs, and logos.
Once you’ve created and customized your page simply hit publish to claim your unique URL and start sharing it in your social profiles, email signatures, and marketing campaigns.
What’s next for Start Page
We’ve already heard from several businesses and individuals that they love Start Page, and we’re thrilled to continue evolving Start Page as more and more people use it as the home for their business. On our radar is custom domains, adding analytics for page views, and making even more themes.
We’d love to hear from you! If you’ve given Start Page a try, how’s it going? What would you like to see us add to it? Get in touch with us on Twitter to share your thoughts and feedback.

Survey emails are a high-value piece of communication that every business has the ability to send. Let’s cover how to create one, and look at some great survey email examples.
We get it — you need to know what’s going on with your customers, without sounding overly intrusive. That’s why we recommend using survey emails to keep your finger on the pulse. And when done well, it can be a win for both sides.
Let’s unpack exactly what survey emails are, and just why they’re so important for your business.
What exactly is a survey email, anyway?
The global email marketing economy was valued at 8.49 billion in 2021. Email marketing remains the bedrock strategy for almost every brand and vertical. Survey emails are non-negotiable for any business that wants to improve its connection with clients.
Customer survey emails are questionnaire forms sent via email. Companies send them to their customers after a sale or event. The results are tallied and used to guide future strategic business decisions. 
Reaching out via email is the simplest way to stay in touch with your customers. And all it takes is a few clicks.
No time like the present
Nothing is worse than sending out a bunch of survey emails and getting zero replies. 
But your customers are only human. They’re busy people and even the kindest of hearts might need a gentle nudge to get the ball rolling.
So what’s the best way to encourage timely responses from your subscribers?
Customers need to know how long it’s going to take. They want to know that they’re not about to dive into a twenty-minute rabbit hole of intricate google forms and 1,000-word essays on their “consumer experience”.
86% of customers appreciate authenticity from a brand. 
So be honest about how long it will take and your customers will respect that —  just like Ritual did in this survey email example below.

They struck the right tone (we’re grateful, we promise, cheers to your health)
Communicated how long it will take clearly (only take a few minutes)

Kept the email short and focused by using a clear CTA (Take the Survey)

Source: Really Good Emails
Make it worth their while
But saying please won’t be enough for all your customers.
You might need to offer a little something to sweeten the deal. Now we’re not saying you need to Paypal them $20 to fill in your survey emails, but something like a discount on future purchases can go a long way.

Source: Really Good Emails
Take a look at this survey email example from Frye, purveyors of fine footwear. It hit all the right notes by:

 Addressing time concerns “quick and easy”
$50 coupon on future purposes to incentivize clicking

Well-designed with a great image to copy ratio and inverted pyramid design

Embed your surveys to reduce friction
Any marketer worth their salt knows that survey email response rates are not great. Between 5% – 30% is typical.
Getting customers to click a link and leave their inbox is actually pretty difficult. But it doesn’t have to be.
Campaign Monitor syncs seamlessly with the GetFeedback app which allows you to simply drag and drop forms onto your email template — without triggering any spam filters. Check out our guide to email forms to learn more.
This survey email example by Taylor Stitch exemplifies this.

Source: Really Good Emails
They get straight to the point and have all the questions immediately visible to the client. All they have to do is fill them out and click POST. It’s a deceptively simple strategy to try if you’re struggling to get customers to click through to your survey.
Wrap Up
Let’s face it — it’s not easy getting your customers to engage with survey emails. But they’re an essential part of communication, and the best way to stay current with what’s happening and how they feel.
Follow the tips we talked about today and remember to make it worth their while. That’s the best way to increase your survey engagement rates and stay current.
Email is still the number one channel for marketing in any vertical and Campaign Monitor is here to help you with customer survey emails every step of the way.
The post How to Use Survey Emails to Get a Pulse on Your Customer Base appeared first on Campaign Monitor.

Hi All, I’m looking for good examples of preference centres that handle a lot of different subjects/topics/newsletter types – 40+ Can anyone think of any companies that handle this really well?
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