Category: Marketing Automation

There are a number of ways to make money online. Here are some of the most popular methods: 1. Sell products or services online: This is perhaps the most common way to make money online. You can sell just about anything online these days, from physical goods to digital products and services. There are a number of platforms that you can use to sell your wares, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and more. 2. Start a blog: If you have something to say and you’re passionate about a particular topic, then starting a blog can be a great way to earn some extra cash (or even a full-time income!). There are a number of ways to monetize your blog, such as through advertising, affiliate marketing, product sales, and more. 3. Provide freelance services: There are a number of sites that allow you to offer your services to others in need of your skillset. Popular platforms include Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour. You can offer services such as content writing, graphic design, web development, and more. 4. Take part in online surveys or sign up for paid focus groups: Companies are always looking for consumer feedback and are willing to pay for it. There are a number of websites that you can sign up for that will allow you to take part in paid surveys or focus groups. 5. Invest in cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency has become quite popular in recent years. There are now many different types of cryptocurrency, with more being created all the time. Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning they are not subject to government or financial institution control. Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009. Cryptocurrencies are often traded on decentralized exchanges and can also be used to purchase goods and services. If you like this Upvote and share with others. Thanks for reading. submitted by /u/KKJA102 [link] [comments]

If you’re anything like me, you might spend hours and hours on social media. And if you do, then you’re probably familiar with the TikTok infinite scroll or doomscrolling on Twitter first thing in the morning. But excessive use of social media has been linked to increased depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, and other negative effects.Of course, nothing is healthy in excess amounts – and the time we spend on social media is something we don’t often stop to think about and check. So in this article, we will share the reasons for and benefits of taking a social media break, as well as insight into what happens when a Chronically Online person (a.k.a. me) decides to take one.Why take a social media break?There have been multiple studies to corroborate the negative effects of social media. One 2022 cross-national survey conducted across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Norway found that those who used social media for entertainment or to decrease loneliness during the pandemic experienced poorer mental health. And ExpressVPN, in a 2021 survey, found that 86 percent of 1,500 Americans reported negative impacts of social media on their happiness and self-image.Social media can also become an addiction. Social media addiction is defined as “an uncontrollable urge to log on to and use social media, and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs other areas of life.”If any of this resonates, then you may need a social media break. And even if you’re not quite at the point of addiction or poor mental health yet, there may be some other signs that show you need to take a break:Frequent annoyance or frustration with trending posts or topicsComparing yourself to other peopleHaving trouble sleeping and checking social media first thing upon waking upExperiencing or noticing an increase in anxiety or depression symptomsSpending a significant amount of time on social mediaFeeling disappointed for not receiving any engagement with a post or commentLosing focus and missing deadlines or neglecting choresFeeling physical distress if you can’t check your social media for a period of timeRemember, social media is designed to be addictive, so it’s not surprising that many of us find it hard to break the habit. But it might be time for a break if you find that social media impacts your mental health or productivity.Potential benefits of taking a social media breakStepping away from social media, even for a short time, has many benefits. Several studies have been conducted on the effects of limiting time on social media, resulting in some interesting findings:This 2021 study found that limiting social media use for a week improved well-being by preventing sleep problems.Another 2021 study found that most students reported a positive change in mood, reduced anxiety, and improved sleep during and immediately after a break from social media.The authors of a 2020 study asked participants to abstain from social media for a week. They report a significant increase in mental well-being and social connectedness after the period of abstinence.A 2018 study found that abstaining from social media use for about a week reduced stress in both typical and excessive social media users and that the effects were more pronounced in the latter group.And this 2018 study found that limiting social media use to about 30 minutes daily significantly reduced feelings of loneliness and depression.Most studies have found positive connections between social media breaks and improved mental well-being. But what do those breaks look like in practice?What happened when I took a social media break?Statistics and data are great, but they’re not lived experiences. So to prepare for this article, I took a week-long social media break and documented my feelings about it. I picked the length of time and method because I felt it was realistic – social media is a big part of my job as a Content Writer at Buffer, so I can’t take too much time off. I also deleted the apps I use the most from my phone for the week.Now that we’re on the same page, here is all the data and highlights from my time off (henceforth called Break Week) and the week after.The ParametersDeleted Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, and Tumblr (yes, I still use Tumblr)For 7 days, from Sunday to SaturdayCollected the hard data from iPhone’s ScreenTime tracking featureTook notes in my Notes appThe Stats: Before and AfterTotal Screen Time: I actually spent more time on my phone during Break Week overall, but on apps like Chrome to read content and YouTube to watch videos. My time on Chrome dropped by nearly half the week after my Break.Most Used Categories: During Break Week, the time I spent on Social Media overall, even considering the times I had to redownload apps to get screenshots for articles, was WAY down. Despite the seeming drop in screen time, I reverted to my old habits once the Break was over, spending a total of 24 hours, 13 minutes (!) on Social Media apps the week after.Pickups: I picked up my phone a lot more during Break Week than the week after. This is definitely because of my instinct to go for social media apps when I open my phone. I turned to my browser when I wasn’t met with my usual distractions. The difference between the two weeks is the apps I opened after picking up – Chrome was the most used during Break Week, while Twitter was my most used the week after. A funny note is the amount of time I spent on my usual shopping app, Farfetch, during Break Week – window shopping to self-soothe is very on-brand for me.What did I learn from the experience?Social media is a distraction and a method of procrastination for meI often found myself reaching for my phone when I needed something else to occupy my time. Without the apps on my phone, I found other ways to occupy my brain for those moments. My screen time didn’t really change, but I spent more time reading, watching videos, and listening to music than usual. To quote my Friday log, “I’ve consumed so much random YouTube content this week that I just know my recommendations are forever altered.”The FOMO hit me hard – but it wasn’t as bad as I expectedSocial media has become the first place many of us go when we see a breaking news headline, and ultimately the primary source of information for many people – myself included. So, without the apps on my phone, I often felt like I was missing something even though I was getting my New York Times newsletters and regular updates from Google News.My notes reflected this as I stated multiple times that I didn’t feel tuned in to what was happening outside of my bubble. Even though it wasn’t quite news (depending on who you ask), my Tuesday log has a hilarious progression:6:43 pm: Generally, FOMO isn’t as bad today – I’ve had lots of things to take my mind off social media7:06 pm: The FOMO is back! A Nigerian artist called Burna Boy dropped a new video LIVE – and I’m missing the live tweet experienceI found myself wanting to share things that didn’t really need to be sharedI’ve become used to sharing on a whim, so not being able to take a picture or film a video and upload it wherever, or type out a quick tweet or LinkedIn post, felt odd. 🖊️Of course, scheduling content in Buffer is an easy way to make important updates without needing to hop into the social media apps themselves.One note from my Wednesday log said, “I got my parents a couple of nights at a beach resort for their anniversary, but I can’t post the pics of how cute they were taking all their pictures. Sad.” A bit dramatic, if you ask me. However, I did find that once the cycle of wanting to share and then realizing I had deleted social media passed, I didn’t feel the urge as much. Even now, nearly a month later, I don’t update my social media as much as I used to. I may return to old habits eventually, but I’ve definitely gotten better at managing the instinct to post once I get inspiration.Ultimately, although I had to redownload some apps for work purposes, the week and the time I took off were quite low-stakes. Nothing super interesting happened, at least not enough to warrant profound regret about my decision to take that particular week off.All this is to say that taking a break, even if it’s sporadic and once in six months, will cause you less discomfort than you think. It may even drive you to be a bit more creative with how you choose to spend your time online. And it will definitely drive you to rethink your relationship with social media and set healthier boundaries.How to take a social media breakIf you’re considering taking a break from social media, let’s discuss how to do it. Here are some tips:Set a limitOne way to break the social media habit is to limit the amount of time you spend on it each day. Use a timer or app to track your usage, and stick to your limit. This will help you be more mindful of your time on social media and hopefully reduce the amount of time you spend on it overall.Apple devices come with automated screen time tracking, and you can try apps like Space or Forest to help manage your usage.Delete the appsIf setting a limit doesn’t work for you, try deleting the social media apps from your phone. This is a more extreme measure, but it can effectively break the habit. You can always redownload the apps if you feel like you absolutely need to – I often needed to get into one app or the other to grab screenshots or links. But you would be surprised how much there is to do without boredom-induced Instagram deep-dives into your university professor’s niece’s account.Take a break from specific platformsAnother option is to take a break from the social media platforms you use most. If you find yourself spending hours on TikTok, for example, try taking a break from that app specifically. Come up with a reward system for every time you feel the urge to open the app and can resist to make it fun.Find other things to occupy your timeWhen you find yourself with the urge to scroll through social media, try to find something else to do instead. Go for a walk, read a book, or call a friend. You can do plenty of things that don’t involve looking at a screen. In fact, you may find yourself picking up a new hobby – I discovered more podcasts during my time off.Be realistic in your approach to taking time offIt’s important to be realistic when thinking about disconnecting from social media, especially if you currently spend a lot of time on it. Not everyone wants or needs to stay away from social media for extended periods of time – like everything in life, it’s essential to set boundaries.But whether you choose to go cold turkey or take little chunks of time off, like one day a week or one week every month, you will likely see increased benefits for your mental and emotional health.Have you ever tracked how much time you spend on social media? Let us know your stats over on Twitter @buffer! It’s a judgment-free zone, promise.

Be honest. Do you know what your non-marketing colleagues do all day?
Sure, you might have a general idea of what your co-workers in sales, finance, and HR do, at least categorically. But it seems that many of us — myself included — have those days, weeks, and months when we’re so bogged down in our own daily hustle, that we become a bit oblivious to what everyone else around us is working on. After all, that’s probably why the phrase, “put your blinders on” exists.
But while a colleague’s job might look different from our own, there’s actually quite a bit that we, as marketers, can learn from them. One of those things is channel strategy.

That’s why I recently sat down with my colleague, Adrianne Ober, a Channel Consultant here at HubSpot. After speaking with her about what she does every day — and about the most important knowledge she’s gained in this role — I’ve realized that there are a lot of channel strategy lessons that marketers can apply to their own work.
So, what did we learn? Read on to find out — or listen to our interview with Adrianne by pressing “play” below.

What Is Channel Strategy?
A channel strategy, according to TechTarget, “is a vendor’s plan for moving a product or a service through the chain of commerce to the end customer.”
In many environments, this kind of channel strategy takes the form of a reselling program — here at HubSpot, we work with Marketing Agency Partners who not only grow with HubSpot software but also, teach their clients how they, too, can be more successful with it.
That’s where channel consultants like Ober come in. “My role is a combination of an account manager and an implementation specialist,” Ober explains, but her day-to-day work encompasses much more than that. “Our focus is to work with our new Agency Partners, to onboard them to the program and support their reselling and delivery efforts.”
Reselling programs aren’t exactly uncommon, especially within tech companies, but what makes Ober’s job different is its true partnership nature. “We really do invest a ton more than other companies do in their partner programs,” she says, “to ensure they are getting the most out of it to help grow their businesses.”
What Can Marketers Learn From a Channel Consultant?
Building Your Own Channel Strategy
Not all marketers work for agencies, but many of us are responsible for positioning our respective products and services as solutions for our target audiences. For example, HubSpot’s Marketing Software provides automation solutions for marketers — what solutions does your organization offer?
In a way, channel strategy could be described as a formal approach to word-of-mouth marketing. How can you provide solutions to your customers that they, in turn, can share with and provide to their own networks? Ober challenges and encourages marketers to ask that question, find the best answer, and make it a reality.
There’s a “relationship-building aspect” of every marketer’s job, she explains, even for those who don’t work with customers directly. Chances are, you’re still responsible for crafting the messages and content that’s going to reach customers, and ultimately, that’s one way for brands to build a relationship with a target audience — by establishing themselves as a trustworthy, shareable resource for solving problems and meeting needs.
But where can marketers begin? “Product knowledge is … imperative,” Ober says. Start by becoming an expert in the solutions provided by your organization — not just the products and services you offer, but also, with the industry at-large. “We need to be comfortable with usage and training,” she explains, in order to establish that trust with both current and potential customers.
A Marketer’s Biggest Pain Points
The thing about HubSpot’s Agency Partner Program — one that even I’m guilty of forgetting — is that its channel consultants work with marketers, day in and day out. That means people in Ober’s position hear about the most common struggles faced by marketers every day and are tasked with proactively offering solutions.
So not only can marketers stand to benefit by implementing their own strategies — but speaking with people like Ober, it turns out, can help us to take a step back, examine our biggest pain points, and figure out how to efficiently tackle them.
“The biggest struggles I hear about are pricing, process, scaling, hiring, and time management,” she explains. In other words: growing pains. “In order for agencies to scale their businesses, they need to develop a repeatable process, which means they need to have a handle on time management for their team and make the right hires at the right time.”
Sound familiar? Maybe that’s why growth marketing is such a hot topic right now — no matter the size of the company they work for, it seems that these are pains experienced by a number of marketers. Those working in SMBs are often tasked with many of the responsibilities mentioned by Ober to help their employers grow. And those working for larger organizations, while not necessarily tasked with growing the business, are often tasked with building, executing, and growing new campaigns and initiatives.
That’s why it’s so important, Ober says, to make time for the learning process, no matter how “underwater” marketers tend to feel when they’re facing deadlines and other time-sensitive priorities.
“Our most successful partners make the time to build their process, invest in the education we provide for their team and take the time to price their services appropriately,” she says. “Marketers can and should make time to keep their finger on the pulse of the industry [they work in], connect with peers, and read up on trends.”
A Similar Skill Set
Finally, I asked Ober, “What else can marketers learn from a channel consultant?” To answer that, she pointed to many of the skills required of her job that overlap with those most crucial to a marketer’s success.
“This role requires us to confidently assess a marketing strategy as it relates to the overall goals,” she says, “whether it’s for a Partner Agency’s own marketing or one of their clients.”
And no matter what their industry, it seems that skill is highly valuable to all marketers — to be able to objectively measure their own strategies, and to figure out what is (not) working.
And “even more so,” Ober explains, is the shared, necessary ability of both marketers and channel consultants “to recommend the right tools and approach to go with the strategy.”
But doing that requires a high-level of communication skills, whether you’re making these recommendations to customers, your colleagues, or your boss. “We need to be able to [identify] not only where these gaps may be,” Ober points out, but also to align them with goals. Skilling up in those areas, she says, can ultimately help marketers accurately evaluate the feasibility of a situation, whether it’s marketing strategy or budget — or being able to predict how (and if) your brand will resonate with a given audience.
Looking Forward
With INBOUND on the horizon, Ober says she’s looking forward to discussing channel strategy and exchanging knowledge with industry professionals.
“I love seeing my Partners in person,” she shares. “I’m excited to talk with them about some products that were teased last year and are in beta now.”
But maybe even more than that, is how excited she is to hear about other marketers’ ideas.
“INBOUND is a place for peers to connect, and [we all] come away from the event with a ton of ideas,” she says, “and, as a result, a ton of motivation to dig in.”
Have you used channel strategy or consulting? Let us know in the comments.

There may be a feature or experience you want to add to your website, but you don’t have the coding chops to build it yourself. A website plugin can help.
So what are website plug-ins? Plugins are extensions that expand the functionality of your website. All you have to do is hit “install.”

In this post, you’ll learn the benefits of using website plugins. You’ll also see 17 website plugins that you can add to your site.

The beauty of website plugins is in their simplicity. All you have to do is download and install — or plug in the plugin!

How to Assess if a Plugin Is the Right Solution for You
When you don’t know how to choose, here are some general rules to find the best plugin for your needs.
1. Understand your website platform.
Plugins are developed for specific content management systems. When picking between plugins, make sure your options are compatible with your website.
For example. if you’re running your website on Shopify, then a WordPress plugin isn’t going to work. In that case, you’d want to look into Shopify apps.
For Wix, you’ll need Wix apps, while Webflow will require Webflow plugins and integrations.
2. Identify your website’s goal.
What are you trying to achieve?
Get specific and outline the issues people are facing on your site. Find out what actions you can take to fix the problem.
For example, “The messaging on the site is too general. If we personalize the messaging, we should see conversions increase by X% within [timeframe].”
3. Conduct research.
Once you’ve narrowed down your goal, conduct research to find a solution best that’s for your specific problem. For example, you may decide a permanent plugin isn’t what you need at all.
A good starting point is to assess your website’s current performance. Website Grader, a free tool by HubSpot, can help with this audit. Website Grader will show you exactly what your domain’s strengths and weaknesses are. Once you’ve eliminated what’s not a problem, you can start shopping for a solution that solves your actual challenges.
Ideally, you’ll want a plugin that has good reviews, is compatible with your site’s platform, and offers the actual features that can help you achieve your goal.
Additionally, check how often the plugin is updated. Old or outdated plugins may pose a security risk for your website. Active plugins that are frequently updated by their developers are always a safer choice.
Once you’ve found a good option, it’s time to get it onto your site for your first test.
Having trouble finding the best plugins? We’ve conducted some of the research for you. Keep reading to learn about our 17 favorite website plugins for the year.

1. HubSpot: Lead Generation WordPress Plugin
HubSpot’s WordPress plugin is an all-in-one marketing and lead generation tool. This plugin can help you collect leads, create pop-up forms, and live chat with visitors. All that data you gather will then be sent to a free CRM to use for campaigns.
The HubSpot platform offers many other growth tools. Many of these tools are free. Premium options can help you accelerate your marketing, sales, and service operations.
Use case: Lead generation and customer relationship management.

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2. Proof: Social Proof Plugin for Websites
Social proof is the idea that consumers will adapt their behavior based on what other people are doing. Testimonials or data about how many people use your product are all social proof.
For example, if a customer sees a million people on your website, they’ll understand that your service is popular and helpful. This increases the likelihood that they will remain a visitor.
Good social proof elements can be the difference between a user committing to buy or exiting your site.
Proof allows you to add social proof in different forms across your site, including current live visitor numbers, notifications of current purchases, and reports of how many people have recently signed up.
Use case: Social proof to boost conversion on landing pages.

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3. Proof Factor: Social Proof Plugin
Proof Factor is another plugin geared toward social proof elements. This plugin can show who recently bought a product and live visitor counts. This allows new visitors to quickly visualize the popularity of your products or services.
Best of all, Proof Factor also offers gamified pop-ups to add another lead generation element to your site and further engage new prospects.
Use case: Display social proof for increased conversion.

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4. All in One SEO: Search Engine Optimization Plugin
All in One SEO (AIOSEO) is a WordPress plugin for managing your website’s SEO. It’s perfect for website owners looking to quickly analyze their site’s organic performance.
With this plugin, there’s a smart website wizard that lets you quickly optimize your settings based on your site’s profile. There’s also added functionality for local SEO and WooCommerce SEO.
Use case: Improving website traffic with SEO.

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5. WP Rocket: Caching Plugin for WordPress
If you care about traffic, user experience, and conversions, you shouldn’t overlook your website speed.
WP Rocket is one of the most powerful caching plugins for WordPress. This plugin helps you make your site faster in just a few clicks. Right upon activation, the plugin applies 80% of web performance best practices — simple as that.
Enable the advanced performance features to give your site an added boost. You can easily remove JS and CSS render-blocking resources, minify CSS and JS files, lazy load your images, and more. You’ll save time and optimize your loading time, Core Web Vitals, and PageSpeed Insights score.
Use case: Make your website load fast.

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6. Optimole: Image Optimization Plugin
Nothing slows a site down like large image files. Optimole processes your images and reduces their weight without sacrificing quality. This plugin will automatically take your images and process them in real time with lazy loading.
With Optimole, your images automatically get adjusted to the right image size for your visitor’s browser and device. If they’re on a low-quality internet connection, Optimole will downgrade the image quality accordingly so your user experience won’t be affected.
Use case: Reduce image weight without sacrificing quality.

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7. RightMessage: Conversion Rate Optimization Plugin for Websites
RightMessage helps you serve your customers through personalized content.
You’re able to segment users based on slide-in questionnaires, acquisition sources, or tags from your email service provider or CRM. Then, based on those segments, you can dynamically change messaging and CTAs to better appeal to that segment and increase conversion rates.
Additionally, the plugin integrates with a ton of site platforms including HubSpot, WordPress, and Squarespace.
Use case: Personalize calls to action to boost conversion.

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8. LimeSpot: E-commerce Personalization
LimeSpot is an e-commerce-specific plugin that’s available through the Shopify app directory.
It runs on powerful AI that analyzes user behavior as both an individual, and as part of a cohort to build out their user profile.
Once the AI’s analysis is complete, it makes dynamic product recommendations that are specific to each user. This massively increases relevancy and conversions.
Use case: Conversion optimization for e-commerce.

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9. Hotjar: Website Plugin for Behavior Monitoring
Knowing how your users are interacting with your site is key to identifying UX issues and design problems.
Hotjar’s heat maps provide you with an overview of user engagement. It can help highlight which CTAs and links are too vague, as well as where you’re losing people in long-form content. Hotjar even allows session recordings for real-time analysis.
As a bonus, Hotjar offers feedback polls for more explicit data collection.
Use case: Behavior monitoring to improve user experience.

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10. Qualaroo: User Feedback Collection Plugin
Qualaroo takes the feedback element of Hotjar to the next level.
With Qualaroo you’re given a suite of features that automatically collect user data through more advanced targeting. You also have the option of including elements, like decision trees, to dig deeper into your questions.
Use case: Collect user feedback to improve products and experience.

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11. Jumper.ai: Conversation Checkout Plugin
Jumper.ai is best known as a social commerce tool, allowing brands to sell directly through their social media channels. However, Jumper.ai also offers a plugin that can help you make sales on your website.
This plugin takes Jumper.ai’s checkout bot and allows you to run it directly on your site. With Jumper, you can add this conversational checkout bot directly to your product or service landing pages.
For instance, here’s how it would look on a blog post.

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Use case: Chatbot to help you increase conversions and improve your site’s user experience.
12. Intercom: Live Website Chat Plugin
Intercom allows you to install a small widget in the bottom right corner of your site to engage users with a live chat.
With Intercom, you can set up an automated chatbot and connect customers with live operators. Additionally, you can use the tool to offer in-app support if you’re running a SaaS solution.
Best of all, Intercom also comes with an email marketing solution to further meet your business needs.
Use case: Set up automated chatbots and live chats to walk users through challenges.

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13. OptinMonster: Lead Generation Website Plugin
OptinMonster is a lead generation service that gives you the ability to target offers to specific user segments.
With OptinMonster, you can set offers to appear only after a visitor has been on your site for a set period, displays exit intent, or has visited certain pages. Ideally, this will help you guarantee your offers are reaching people once they’re eager to learn more.
Use case: Capture leads with exit intent pop-ups and other time-sensitive methods.

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14. Yoast SEO: Website Plugin for SEO
SEO is a complex discipline to master. Yoast can help your team follow best practices.
Yoast’s SEO plugin isn’t a perfect solution. However, this plugin works well for SEO beginners who need a good overview of their actions. Yoast’s plugin can help keep your website on track and ensure you’re truly optimizing your site for search.
For instance, the tool can amend meta descriptions for you. This ensures you’re only showing key information in search results and social shares. When you’re busy or don’t have the resources to dedicate to SEO, Yoast can help you level up.
Use case: Beginner-friendly tool to add meta tags without code.

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15. WooCommerce: Ecommerce Plugin for WordPress
WooCommerce is one of the bigger e-commerce solutions out there. It extends WordPress sites into online stores.
It’s a perfect addition for WordPress users who want to start selling their own products.
Use case: Sell products on your WordPress site.

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16. Drift: Conversational Marketing Platform
Drift has taken the concept of conversational marketing to the next level, and is a great addition to other marketing tools in your arsenal.
Drift offers chatbot services that can help make product suggestions or answer common questions. This plugin also allows you to segment messages based on your users’ accounts, creating a more personalized user experience.
Use case: Personalize marketing to boost conversions.

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17. VWO: A/B Testing Plugin
Testing different elements of your site, from headlines and images to CTAs and messaging, is key to improving your marketing results. However, running individual A/B tests can be time-consuming and difficult.
Fortunately, the VWO A/B testing tool is an all-in-one solution that automatically runs A/B tests on your pages. The results can help you improve the overall optimization of your website.
Use case: A/B testing to diagnose issues and increase conversions.

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What website plugin will work for you?
There are countless website plugins out there, and each one aims to solve a unique website problem.
If your goal is to minimize friction in the purchase or sign-up journey for your users, for example, a behavior monitoring tool like Hotjar will help. Figure out your goal, then find a plugin that helps you achieve it.
And if you’re looking for a free website plugin that’ll help you generate more qualified leads, check out HubSpot’s free solution below.

78% of consumers are willing to buy from a company after a positive experience on social media, according to a poll by Harris. But that can’t happen if they can’t find you. Adding social media icons to your email signature makes it easy for customers to connect with you on their terms.

Today, we’ll cover the easiest ways to add social media icons to your email signature, plus offer a few free resources to get it done. After that, we’ll cover a few common questions, including:

How do I add social media icons to my email signature?
How to add social media icons to Gmail
How to add social media icons to Outlook
How to add social media icons to Apple mail
Free Social Media Icons for Email Signatures
Where do I find my social media links?

Below, we’ll discuss how and when you’d use either method.
Use an email signature generator
We recommend using a signature generator, like HubSpot’s free signature generator, for a few reasons. A generator will:

Automatically size the social media icons properly.
Make sure your icons match your theme.
Align the icons properly with the rest of the signature.
Ensure your links are active.

Those tasks have to be done manually when using the other method, and messing up even one can make your email look unprofessional.
To add social icons with the generator:

Simply paste your social links into the right fields and the generator does the rest. (We’ll cover where to find your social links below.)
Adjust the look to suit your brand or style.
Copy the image or the source code and paste it into your email client.

Make your email signature for free
Add an image within your email client
Maybe you’re already happy with your signature, and you just need to add social media icons. If that’s the case, most email clients (like Gmail, Outlook, etc.) will allow you to add them as an image to your signature.
One important note: You’ll want to add the icons using the image address or image URL, and not by uploading the images to your email client. That second method will add the images as an attachment to all your outgoing emails. Adding unnecessary attachments can potentially affect your delivery rates.
For each social media site you’ll need to:

Find icons of the right size, shape, and color. (We’ve got some options below.)
Right-click the image of the icon and select “copy image address” or “copy image URL”.
In your email client’s signature editor, click on “insert image.”
Paste the image URL into the field given.
Adjust the placement and alignment of the icon if needed.
Copy the social link that matches the icon you’re adding.
Highlight the newly added icon image and click “insert link.”
Paste the social link into the field.

Add Social Media Icons to my Gmail Signature

Click on the cog in the top right corner.
Click on “Settings”.
Scroll down until you see the email signature editor.
Click on “+ Create New”
Paste in your email signature (or follow the instructions above to add images).
Under “Signature defaults” select your new signature.
Scroll to the bottom and click “Save changes”.

See more detailed instructions on how to add a signature in Gmail.

Add Social Media Icons to my Outlook Signature

Click on the gear icon in the top right corner.
Click on “View all Outlook settings”.
Select “Compose and reply”.
Scroll down to the email signature section.
Paste in your email signature (or follow the instructions above to add images).

See more detailed instructions on how to add a signature in Outlook.

Add Social Media Icons to my Apple Mail Signature

Click on “Mail” and then “Preferences” in the top left corner.
Click on the “Signatures” tab.
Click the + button underneath the middle column.
Paste in your email signature (or follow the instructions above to add images)
Uncheck the box that says “Always match my default message font.”
Close the pop-up window.

Free Social Media Icons for Email Signatures
Feel free to use these social media icons in your signature, or add some automatically with HubSpot’s free email signature generator.

Still not finding what you’re looking for? Below, you’ll find links to each social media site’s brand kit. In each kit, you’ll find other sizes, shapes, colors, and file types.

Facebook Brand Kit
Twitter Brand Kit
Instagram Brand Kit
LinkedIn Brand Kit
YouTube Brand Kit

Please note: By downloading the icons from a brand kit and uploading them to your email client, you’ll be adding them as an attachment to all your outgoing emails. Adding attachments could affect your delivery rate.
You can avoid this by adding them using the methods described earlier in the blog.
Should I put social media icons in my email signature?
Yes, you should put social media icons in your email signature. Consider that 20% of Millennial and Gen-Z consumers outright prefer to use social media for customer service, according to a study by ZenDesk.
But no matter what generation your customers are, giving them more options makes it easier for them to contact you.
What size should my social media icons be?
Your social media icons need to be large enough that your recipients can easily click or tap on them. But they still need to be small enough to not distract from the rest of your email signature.
If you’re adding them manually, start by looking for icons that are roughly 21px by 21px and adjust from there.
Otherwise, an email signature generator should automatically size them to fit your signature.
What social media sites should I include in my email signature?
Your email signature should include 3 to 5 links to the social media sites that are most relevant to your business.
For example, a freelance photographer would definitely want to include Instagram. On the other hand, a recruiting agency would want to be sure to include LinkedIn.
Whatever you decide, just be sure not to include any unused icons. Broken links of any kind can make your emails seem unprofessional.
Some popular social media sites to consider include:

TikTok
WhatsApp
Pinterest
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn

Should my social media icons link to my business or personal account?
In general, your social media icons should link to your business’s social media accounts. This creates a uniform customer experience, and it’s also a great way to boost your number of followers.
The exception to this rule is an employee who needs to be contacted directly. For example, a recruiter or sales rep may find it useful to link to their professional LinkedIn account.
You’ll want to avoid linking to personal accounts, even if you’re the sole owner of the business. Your private social media may not always reflect the image you want to convey to your customers.

Where do I find my social media links?
LinkedIn

Click on the “Me” icon in the top right of the homepage.
Click “View Profile”
Click on the “Contact info” button below your profile picture.
Your link will look like this: linkedin.com/in/[username]

Facebook

Click on the icon of your profile picture in the top right corner.
Click on “Settings & privacy”
Click on “Settings”
Your link will look like this: https://www.facebook.com/[username]

Twitter

Click on your profile picture in the top left corner.
Copy the URL from the URL bar of your browser.
Your link will look like this: https://www.twitter.com/[username]

Instagram

Click on your username in the top right corner.
Copy the URL from the URL bar of your browser.
Your link will look like this: https://www.instagram.com/[username]/

YouTube

Open the left-side menu.
Click “Customization”
Click “Basic info”
Your link will either look like: youtube.com/c/[username] or youtube.com/channel/[channel ID]

Be More Social
No matter which method you choose, adding social media icons to your email signature is a benefit to you and your customers. You’ll boost engagement with your brand, and your customers get to use the platforms they’re already comfortable with.

The eCommerce industry has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. In 2021 alone, eCommerce sales worldwide were approximately 4.9 trillion US dollars. This figure is projected to grow to 50% by 2025, reaching a whopping 7.4 trillion US dollars. While it’s generally believed that the eCommerce industry is more about business-to-consumer (B2C), the…
The post 6 eCommerce Trends That Will Impact 2023 appeared first on Benchmark Email.

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