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The 7 Best Music Playlists for Productivity, According to Science

Productivity
February 20, 2021/by
The 7 Best Music Playlists for Productivity, According to Science Not long after I first started at HubSpot, I was welcomed with a fresh pair of orange, noise-canceling headphones. At the time, I had no clue that these headphones would carry me through many long work days and some of the deepest, darkest levels of writer's block. Over three years later, they are truly the gift that keeps on giving. You see, for me, listening to music while working is the secret to my productivity. All it takes is the right Beyoncé track, and I go from idle to uber productive. (Seriously, it works like a charm.) The trouble is, finding the perfect playlist isn't always easy. With endless streaming music possibilities at my fingertips, it can be hard to nail down just the right tunes to get the wheels turning. So, I did what we do best around here — a little research. As it turns out, there are a ton of studies that explore the influence of specific types of music as they relate to your productivity levels. To help you find just the right mix, we've sourced and curated seven Spotify playlists designed with specific studies in mind. Whether you're into Mozart or Chance The Rapper, we're confident that there's something on this list that will do the trick. Note: Some of the playlists contain tracks with explicit language that might not be suitable for the office. 7 Science-Backed Office Music Playlists for Productivity 1. Classical...
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7 Examples of Influencer Marketing on YouTube

Uncategorized
February 20, 2021/by
7 Examples of Influencer Marketing on YouTube In a 2019 MediaKix report, 71% of marketers agreed that the quality of customers or traffic from influencer marketing was better than other marketing channels. So, we know influencer marketing can be a very profitable marketing strategy. If you have been thinking about using this tactic but are unsure where to start, consider YouTube. Unlike other platforms that are usually restricted by time (think TikTok and Instagram), YouTube celebrates long-form content. This creates space for influencers to deep dive into topics and give detailed reviews on products and services. Beyond that, engagement rates on YouTube are the highest when compared to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, according to a 2020 Influencer Marketing Hub report. Now that consumers are turning more to YouTube for uplifting content, this gives brands a huge opportunity to leverage the power of influencers on a platform known for high engagement. So, what type of videos can influencers and brands collaborate on? Let's go through seven examples. 1. Day-in-the-Life Vlogs One of the most natural ways influencers incorporate sponsored products into their YouTube videos is through day-in-the-life vlogs. Usually done with a morning or daily routine video, the influencer will take viewers through their day and mention the product or service as part of their ritual. In this video, Natalie Barbu gives her audience a peek into her daily routine, emphasizing her planning process. She covers the benefits of software like Asana...
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Have Long & Unproductive Meetings? Try a Stand-Up Instead

Uncategorized
February 18, 2021/by
Have Long & Unproductive Meetings? Try a Stand-Up Instead We've all been in meetings that were about 30 minutes too long. We laugh at "this could've been an email" GIFs, sigh, and continue with our days. Yet, the truth is, unnecessary meetings are costing us way more than just time. Doodle's 2019 State of Meetings Report estimated that poorly organized meetings are costing U.S. companies $399 billion. One to two unnecessary meetings a week might seem insignificant, but when you consider a whole year's worth of meetings, the impact is considerable. As more companies move toward remote work, the number of meetings are also increasing. So, how can teams ensure their meetings stay productive? Stand-ups are one way to solve that. To understand why stand-ups exist, you first have to understand the agile methodology. For a long time, many companies were using a waterfall model for projects. This meant that teams would tackle projects one stage at a time and assume that requirements would stay the same through development. The issue with the waterfall approach is that: Teams are not always aligned. Unclear requirements often delay progress. Testing only begins after development is done. Agile is built around iterative development, which makes teams more involved in the project's progress. Teams work in sprints and through stand-ups, issues are addressed quickly and efficiently. Stand-ups are typically daily. However, some teams have them on a less frequent basis. To maintain the benefits of the process,...
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Will Marketers Return to Offices in 2021? What Companies Need to Know [Data + Expert Tips]

Remote Working, remote-work
February 18, 2021/by
Will Marketers Return to Offices in 2021? What Companies Need to Know Back in 2018, I chose to work at HubSpot because I loved HubSpot's content, and its culture. Oh — and the smoothie bar, waffle Wednesdays, and ping pong tables didn't hurt, either. Office space has undeniably seen a change in recent years. Open-floor plans have become increasingly popular, as have standing desks, beer on-tap, game rooms, and even greenhouse spaces. As this decade came to a close, many of my closest friends chose jobs based, at least in part, on office vibe. And yet, it's long been said that remote work is the future. In fact, HubSpot has been touting the benefits of remote work since 2012 in its Culture Code, which states: "Work isn't a place we go, it's a thing we do." In 2020, that premonition became a reality as the pandemic forced an entire global workforce to shift to remote work practically overnight. And now, as the dust settles and employees find new, innovative ways to work productively from home, many businesses are wondering: Do we even need an office, anymore? Let's explore how marketers across the U.S. feel about remote work in 2021, and whether remote work is just a current necessity — or the new long-term reality. Will employees return to the office? To explore whether or not employees will return to the office in 2021 (if they're permitted to do so), I started by surveying 496 marketers and asked the question: If...
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When Is the Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2021? [Cheat Sheet]

Instagram Marketing
February 17, 2021/by
When Is the Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2021? In high school, one of my friends was determined to find the perfect time to post her Instagram photos to maximize the amount of likes she got. She was surprisingly scientific about it, posting at different times of the day and jotting down each of her posts' "likes per minute." After weeks of testing, she figured out which post time raked in the most likes, and, from then on, she could easily get 200 likes on all her Instagram posts. My friend's rather scientific method to maximize her Instagram likes still makes me chuckle to this day. But since I'm a marketer now, her desire to build a strong Instagram presence also resonates with me. To build a sizable Instagram following, you need to create compelling content that your audience actually craves. But if you don't post your content at the right time, most of them will never see it. So how do you figure out the optimal post time for your specific audience? The best way to find an ideal posting time is by testing the timing of your posts to see which post time generates the most audience engagement. But if you don't have enough resources or time to conduct your own tests, Sprout Social, a social media management platform with over 20,000 customers, has you covered. Last year, they analyzed their customer data to see what time and day their social media posts...
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7 Marketing Channels to Focus On In 2021

Marketing Advice
February 17, 2021/by
7 Marketing Channels to Focus On In 2021 Even though Field of Dreams is one of my favorite movies, the saying “If you build it, they will come” sadly doesn’t apply to content marketing. Too often, we forget that content marketing consists of two separate words — content and marketing. Creating content is usually the most fulfilling and enjoyable part of a marketer’s job but, distributing that content is just as important. After all, if no one sees your content, they definitely won’t come.  This is why it’s important to understand marketing channels and which ones you should use to leverage your content marketing goals. In short, marketing channels are the different tools and platforms you use to communicate with your target audience. While the decision to use specific channels should come from your audience insights, it’s essential to understand different channels’ value.  In this post, we’ll discuss different marketing channels to consider using that will amplify your reach, resonance, and revenue, all while prioritizing what matters most: your customers. 1. Word of Mouth Marketing 70% of consumers say that trusting a brand is more important today than ever before. Unfortunately, consumers also trust brands and the paid content they create less than ever before. So, what’s a marketer to do when the very people they need to persuade don’t trust them? They need to rely on their customers’ recommendations of their brand to inspire other customers to make purchases, also known...
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How to Write a Letter of Interest in 2021 [Examples + Template]

Cover Letter
February 17, 2021/by
How to Write a Letter of Interest in 2021 It's one of the worst feelings in the world. You've spent weeks perfecting your resume and crafting the perfect cover letter, and you're finally ready to submit your application for your dream job. But when you scan the company's careers page, panic starts pouring over you. The job you wanted to apply for is no longer open. It's gone. And as you stare at your laptop screen in shock, you can't help but think you'll never be able to join your dream company. What should you do in this situation? You can't just put your job search on pause until the company opens the position again. How do you express interest in joining a company when the position you want isn't currently available? One of the most effective ways to grab a hiring manager's attention and get your foot in the door is by writing a letter of interest to the company. What is a letter of interest? A letter of interest lets a company know that you want to work for them in a role for which they're currently not hiring. In hopes that the company will contact you when they do open this position or another relevant position, your letter of interest focuses on how your skills can benefit the company, not how the company can benefit you. You can send a letter of interest at any time, regardless of whether the company is actively...
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8 VR Startups to Keep an Eye On In 2021

Virtual Reality (VR)
February 13, 2021/by
8 VR Startups to Keep an Eye On In 2021 Did you know that the virtual and augmented reality global revenue is expected to grow from over $13 billion this year to more than $67 billion by 2024? In fact, virtual reality startups are valued at more than $36 billion on paper. For marketers, virtual reality's surging popularity and ability to deeply engage people in immersive experiences and transport them to places they could only imagine going to makes it one of the most exciting emerging technologies in the industry. But branded VR experiences are still in its infancy. Most marketing teams don't know how to use the technology to its full potential. To help you learn how to effectively leverage VR, we decided to make a list of the top VR startups and showcase how they've been able to use the technology to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital and build successful businesses. If you want stay ahead of the VR curve in 2021 and beyond, check out these startups. 8 VR Startups to Keep an Eye On In 2021 1. Magic Leap Magic Leap, a company valued at over $6 billion, is an augmented reality platform focused on providing VR solutions to businesses. With its wearable spatial solutions, you can easily incorporate VR/AR into your day-to-day. For example, you can use the headset to meet with coworkers and colleagues remotely, collaborate, share content, and even visualize...
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