How I Used Root Cause Analysis to Turn Organizational Problems Into Opportunities

January 20, 2025/by admin

How I Used Root Cause Analysis to Turn Organizational Problems Into Opportunities I’ve faced plenty of problems when building content teams. Sometimes, those problems led to outright failures. Content falls flat, email campaigns flop, or new hires don’t work out. At times, it feels easier to just accept reality and move on. “Well, that new hire wasn’t the right person for our team right now. We’ll do better next time!” But, if you don’t understand why that hire didn’t work out — if you fail to understand the real problem — you’re bound to repeat it. Conducting a root cause analysis (RCA) helps you confront your perceived reality and truly understand what went wrong so you don’t repeat history. Now, that can sound a little scary. After all, while we’ve been told for years that learning from failure is key to growth, admitting to failure feels vulnerable. What if I am the problem? What if it’s something I cannot fix? The RCA process helps us work through those fears using a data-driven approach and critical thinking. It asks us to eschew the easy answer and chase deeper truths. From there, we can build a more informed and practical approach to challenges. We fail, we learn, and we improve. That’s the goal of a good RCA. How do you run a root cause analysis, and what tools can you use to do it effectively? Grab your free root cause analysis template, and let’s get into it. Table of Contents...

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Banking on Social: How to Create a Social Media Budget & Spend Smarter in 2025

marketing budget

January 9, 2025/by admin

Banking on Social: How to Create a Social Media Budget & Spend Smarter in 2025 A whopping 60% of marketers feel that the way they spend their budget — and the ROI it produces — is being scrutinized more now than in the past. So, it’s no surprise you landed here to discover how you can better optimize your social media budget this year. As a content pro (and former social media manager), I’ve got you covered. Let’s talk about what a good social media marketing budget looks like, who should be involved, and how you can data-charge your approach. Table of Contents What is a social media budget? How to Create a Social Media Marketing Budget How to Allocate Your Social Media Budget Social Media Budget Template How to Measure Your Social Media Budget’s ROI What is a social media budget? A social media budget (or social media marketing budget) is a dedicated amount of money that a business reserves for social media marketing activities like content creation and campaign analysis. The most comprehensive social media budgets cover the following: Strategy and planning: This includes setting goals and objectives, conducting audience research and competitive analysis, choosing priority channels, and establishing KPIs. Content development and publishing: This includes establishing a content cadence, building a content calendar, writing content and creating multimedia content (e.g., audio and video), and scheduling/publishing...

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In 2025, These SaaS Landing Pages Are My Go-To for Inspiration

Landing Page Design

January 9, 2025/by admin

In 2025, These SaaS Landing Pages Are My Go-To for Inspiration The first place a potential customer may hear about your brand could be from your social media, a passing ad, or even a friend‘s recommendation. And if you’re one of the lucky ones, they may even seek out your brand's landing page looking for more. Easy, right? You got them on your website, they're sure to buy now! (Except it’s usually not that simple.) If your landing page doesn‘t present your service or product value well enough, you could be losing out on traffic simply because your team’s UI/UX could use a facelift. And it‘s even tougher to sell your brand when you’re selling a SaaS software service, where you can't just flash a tangible product, and instead need to highlight features and use cases on your website. Luckily, today, I‘ll walk you through some of the best SaaS landing pages I’ve come across, why each one is effective, and leave you with some inspiration for own site. Let's dive in. Table of Contents SaaS Landing Page Examples We Love Elements of a Great SaaS Landing Page What makes SaaS landing pages unique? Help Your Landing Page Land with Your Customers Elements of a Great SaaS Landing Page Some key components make up an effective landing page, here's a few that your business should prioritize: A compelling headline: A strong, clear headline that immediately communicates the main benefit or...

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The Marketing Executive’s Playbook: How Marketers Can Work & Level-Up Like 700+ Leaders in 2025 [New Data]

Leadership & Management

January 8, 2025/by admin

The Marketing Executive's Playbook: How Marketers Can Work & Level-Up Like 700+ Leaders in 2025 “What do you mean AI won’t fix everything?” That conversation with a marketing executive last month sparked my journey into creating this marketing executive playbook for 2025. As I dove into data and interviewed executives across industries, I discovered something surprising: While 56% of marketing leaders believe marketing has changed more in the past three years than the previous 50, the most successful leaders are taking a much more nuanced approach than I expected. To understand where marketing is headed, HubSpot surveyed 724 marketing leaders at the director level and above across major markets, including: The U.S. (27.49%), Great Britain (18.78%), Netherlands (11.74%), and Japan (10.91%). Then, to bring these findings to life, I spoke with marketing executives from companies like Wrike, Atlassian, Sendoso, and more about how they’re approaching these challenges in their organizations. Our research reveals three clear priorities for 2025: Increasing revenue and sales (20%). Deepening customer understanding (16%). Expanding brand awareness (16%). What fascinated me most in my conversations with marketing executives was how these priorities often create productive tension, pushing leaders to find creative solutions that balance innovation with proven fundamentals. Let’s dive into what’s working now and what’s next, with practical insights from both our research and real-world marketing leaders. Table of Contents The Growth–Brand Balance: A New...

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Viral Video Marketing: 9 of My Favorite Viral Marketing Videos

Video Marketing

January 6, 2025/by admin

Viral Video Marketing: 9 of My Favorite Viral Marketing Videos Creating a viral marketing video isn‘t easy, but it isn’t impossible. Furthermore, viral video marketing doesn't always require a big-budget video since more and more consumers are starting to value authenticity over staged content. If you want to go viral in 2025 but aren‘t sure how, you’ve come to the right blog. Here are some of my favorite viral marketing videos and why they were such a success. And if, by the end of this list, you still doubt your ability to create viral content, remember that HubSpot's Clip Creator is a free AI-powered video creator that can help you create memorable marketing videos regardless of your skill level. 9 Viral Video Examples 1. Cecred Views: 2.1 million Megacelebrity Beyonce released her new line of hair care products called Cecred, and her marketing was very Gen Z-coded. Instead of glossy, highly produced videos of models flaunting shiny, beautiful hair and bouncy curls, Beyonce took her phone and filmed herself using the products. She then took viewers through her wash day routine and explained the products she uses. So, what makes it Gen-Z coded? It's an authentic and unpolished marketing approach that younger consumers often prefer. Studies show that 62% of Gen Z consumers prefer brands that create authentic and relatable content. Beyonce is also known for being a private person who rarely gives fans a glimpse into her personal life, so a video of her candidly sharing her...

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The Rise of Free SaaS Tools as Lead Magnets (& How Marketers Can Take Advantage)

Marketing Strategy

January 3, 2025/by admin

The Rise of Free SaaS Tools as Lead Magnets (& How Marketers Can Take Advantage) As Wiz’s Head of Marketing Tom Orbach says, “Mini tools are 10x more powerful than free trials.” For the last 20 years, tech marketers have been giving away e-books and PDFs. I think Orbach would agree that this era is coming to an end. Thanks to AI, no-code, and outsourcing, the smartest tech marketers are now giving away mini software tools … entirely for free. This is something I like to call ‘free tool marketing.’ Here’s how it works. What is free tool marketing? In MBA speak, free tools are referred to as ‘loss leaders.’ A loss leader is a free-ish mini product that gets customers to buy a bigger product. For a perfume company, it might be a free sample of perfume at the mall. For my hometown gas station, Wawa, it was free coffee every Tuesday in 2024. Now, in tech, the norm is to give away free tools to get you in the door for paid ones. But how do you figure out which mini tool(s) to build? There are two main ways: 1. Look for low-difficulty, high-volume keywords. The goal here is to snag a little bit of traffic that may be interested in your paid software. You’re not gonna rank for your niche’s main keyword overnight, but mini tools are like mini bets. Each mini tool gives you a better shot at ranking higher for your most important...

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7 Soft Skills You Need to Achieve Career Growth (+ 3 Extra Skills)

Career Development

December 31, 2024/by admin

7 Soft Skills You Need to Achieve Career Growth (+ 3 Extra Skills) I’m a former NBCUniversal Page, and I will always remember how thorough the application and interview process for the program was. Most importantly, it taught me a valuable lesson: soft skills can be equally as — if not more coveted — than hard skills. In my experience, soft skills development is seen as a sign of metamorphosis. While hard skills are essential, they’re also typically mandatory for a role. On the other hand, soft skills require more intrinsic motivation and long-term change. I owe a great deal of my career growth to developing and adapting my soft skills, so read on for my best tips and practices. Table of Contents What are soft skills? 7 Soft Skills You Need to Achieve Career Growth Why are soft skills important? Additional Soft Skills to Nurture Soft skills can be taught, but they‘re less straightforward than more technical capabilities. Hard skills are the specific qualities that can be clearly defined, measured, and taught for success in a job. With hard skills, I can learn advanced techniques and methods that yield measurable results. They can even be tied directly to the business’s bottom line. But when it comes to soft skills — things like small talk, empathy, and flexibility — they‘re not an exact science. However, they’re just as impactful. I need hard...

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How to Run a Content Audit in 2025 (With Tips From Content & SEO Specialists)

Marketing and Sales Alignment

December 30, 2024/by admin

How to Run a Content Audit in 2025 (With Tips From Content & SEO Specialists) It’s not enough to make content. You have to make sure what you make is performing well. That’s where content audits come in. As a content marketer, I rely on content audits to keep track of how content is performing, understand what needs improvement, and use analytics to inform future campaigns. In this post, I’ll talk about how you can perform a content audit for your own business and go over high-quality tools to help you streamline the process. I’ve also sourced helpful tips from SEO and content professionals, which I’ve included throughout the article. Keep reading, or use one of the links below to jump ahead to the section you're looking for. Table of Contents What is a content audit? Content Audit Tools How to Run a Content Audit Content Audit Template Content Audit Checklist Content Audit Goals Running a content audit for your website can boost your traffic and improve the experience of your readers. First, content audits help you take note of the areas on your website that aren‘t properly optimized for search engine rank. For example, you might add meta descriptions to your blog posts as part of your current strategy. If that always wasn’t the case, a content audit helps you locate which posts need to be updated. Content audits...

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What is a Mind Map? Exploring a Powerful Tool for Creative Problem Solving

Marketing Strategy

December 30, 2024/by admin

What is a Mind Map? Exploring a Powerful Tool for Creative Problem Solving Do you ever struggle to visualize your ideas or consolidate your thoughts in one place? I certainly have. As a marketer, generating numerous ideas for campaigns, collateral, and messaging is essential — yet managing them can be challenging without proper documentation. Without a clear, organized visual for others to follow, communicating said ideas becomes even more difficult. That's why creating a mind map is my go-to solution to address these challenges. In this article, I’ll explain what a mind map is, how you can use it to articulate ideas more effectively, and provide you with a free template to use on your own. Let's dive in. Table of Contents What is a mind map? How to Make a Mind Map What is mind mapping? Mind Map Uses Mind Map Examples Marketers typically use mind maps as a strategic tool to explore and structure marketing concepts like identifying target audiences and campaign themes and facilitating creative thinking and planning. Oftentimes, marketers refer to this type of planning as “mind mapping” itself. What is mind mapping? Mind mapping is the process of creating a mind map to visually organize information, ideas, or concepts. Now that I‘ve explained the basics, let’s discuss different reasons why you might want to make one of your own. Mind Map Uses 1....

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How Content Monitoring Can Level Up Your Content Strategy [+ Expert Tips]

Content Planning

December 30, 2024/by admin

How Content Monitoring Can Level Up Your Content Strategy I love content monitoring! Well, not as much as chocolate, or cake, or chocolate cake ... But when it comes to work-related processes, it's one of my favorite things. Why? Because it helps me analyze what is and isn't working. I can then use these actionable insights to create or improve upon any content strategy. Honestly, I love content monitoring so much that I want you to love it, too. And that‘s why I’ve included as much of my knowledge on the subject as possible in this article. I've also gathered more “must-know” insights from other content specialists. On the latter, I'd like to express my gratitude upfront to everyone who shared their insights below. Seriously, dear reader, please know that when it comes to content monitoring, you're in incredible hands. That said, let's get into it. Table of Contents What is content monitoring? The Benefits of Content Monitoring How to Monitor Content Best Practices for Content Monitoring. What is content monitoring? Content monitoring means benchmarking and tracking content performance over time to make sure it meets key performance indicators and objectives. You can apply a content monitoring process across digital platforms and content types. So, you might monitor how well your online content — i.e., blogs and landing pages — performs, for example. Equally, you might track your LinkedIn content's success or...

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