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How to Create Your First Web Form (Tutorial)

Forms, Free Online Form Builder
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How to Create Your First Web Form (Tutorial) Forms are often an integral part of a buyer's journey, and most companies already use web forms as part of their marketing strategy. In fact, 74% of companies use web forms for lead generation, and 49.7% say their online forms are their highest converting lead generation tool. Forms can vary greatly in purpose -- you might use a form to get more sign-ups to your email newsletter, collect email addresses to send coupons and special offers, create gated content for viewers, or allow leads to sign-up for free versions of your product. Ultimately, a form is often the fastest and most effective opportunity for you to collect leads and nurture them into sales. But creating a form can feel like a tricky endeavor, particularly since a form's design can have a major impact on whether a visitor fills it out, or abandons your site altogether. Here, we're going to dive into how to create your first web form to get you started. How to Create a Web Form For our purposes I'm going to show you how to create a form in HubSpot's free form builder, but you could also use Google Forms, WordPress, HTML, or another tool of your choice. 1. To begin creating your form within your HubSpot account, go to "Marketing" > "Lead Capture" > "Forms". 2. In the upper right, click "Create form". 3. In the left panel, click "Regular...

Best 10 Virtual Event Platforms To Host Your Next Event

Remote Working
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Best 10 Virtual Event Platforms To Host Your Next Event Are you planning a virtual event and not sure which platform to use? From large platforms like Hopin to smaller, more niche platforms, we've got you covered. Check out our list of the 10 best platforms to host your next virtual event. What is a virtual event platform? Key Features to Look For in a Virtual Event Platform Best Virtual Event Platforms You might be wondering, is a virtual event platform the same as a video conferencing platform like Zoom? Technically no. Although both tools will have features that intersect, they are designed for different purposes. A virtual event platform is designed to scale, and offer immersive experiences and interactive elements meant to simulate in-person events. A video conferencing platform, on the other hand, is unlikely to support interactive features beyond chatrooms and breakout rooms, as their main focus is video conferencing. Key Features to Look for in Virtual Event Platform If you’re in the market for a virtual event platform, you’ll want to look for one that’s scalable, customizable, and user-friendly. Here are some key features to look for: Pre-event: Registration system Payment processing Event referral tracking Email marketing integration During the event: Polling and Q&A Live-streaming...

How to Get Buy-In from Some of the Top Marketing Leaders: 3 Execs Discuss What KPIs Matter to Them

Marketing Strategy
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How to Get Buy-In from Some of the Top Marketing Leaders: 3 Execs Discuss What KPIs Matter to Them Whether you're creating a new content campaign, launching a YouTube series, or revising your social strategy, you're going to be asked the same question by leadership before getting their support: "How will this impact our company's bottom line?" That can be a difficult question to answer — which is why it's critical you know your key performance indicators (KPIs) to: a) measure the success of your program, and b) receive executive buy-in — which is typically a prerequisite for getting the budget and resources you need to successfully launch any new paid marketing program. There are so many different KPIs any marketer might use to measure success, including sales, web traffic, follower growth, conversion rate, or brand awareness. But which ones matter most to leadership? In other words: Which ones should you focus on if you're seeking executive approval? Here, we spoke with executives at LinkedIn, G2, and HubSpot to uncover which KPIs matter most to them in 2023.  Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader: Data from 500+ Marketing Executives on How to Get Ahead in 2023 What KPIs Matter Most to Execs in 2023 1. Reach and leads. If you work backwards from your company's primary goal — of increasing revenue — then it makes sense that reaching new audiences and converting those audiences into qualified leads for sales would be two of the top KPIs that matter...

Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader: How 500+ Marketing Executives Plan to Get Ahead in 2023 [+ How You Can Join Them]

Marketing Strategy
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Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader: How 500+ Marketing Executives Plan to Get Ahead in 2023 In many ways, marketing leadership has never been harder. Over the past year alone, you've needed to navigate economic turmoil; a workplace shift to more globally distributed teams; and new trends that felt like they arose overnight (TikTok, anyone?).   Which is why 76% of marketing leaders say marketing has seen more change in the past three years than the last 50.  Change isn't always bad, but it is always challenging. And, as we prepare for the year ahead, many marketing leaders are wondering: What should I prepare for? Where should I focus my efforts? And what are my biggest blind spots?  To help you create a powerful and agile strategy for 2023, we've surveyed 500+ marketing executives on the biggest challenges, opportunities, and trends ahead of us. Plus, we've interviewed some of the biggest experts across the industry — ranging from CMOs and VPs at LinkedIn, Uber, Microsoft, Dropbox, SEMRush, and more — to uncover best practices for becoming a better, more effective leader.  If you're not a marketing leader, but interested in becoming one, you're in luck. We also have plenty of content and best practices on getting ahead in your career — including how to get executive stakeholder buy-in, and how to get promoted on both an individual contributor and manager-level.  Let's dive in.  Executive Leadership Survey Results   1. The biggest challenges marketing leaders' expect to...

Instagram and TikTok Resumes: Are Marketing Managers Watching Them?

Job Search
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Instagram and TikTok Resumes: Are Marketing Managers Watching Them? Instagram and TikTok are apps typically used to share special moments, connect with others, or promote our brands — but can we also use these platforms to create and share resumes? In 2021, TikTok launched TikTok Resumes, a program designed to "continue expanding and enhancing TikTok as a new channel for recruitment and job discovery," according to a news release. The New York Times calls TikTok the new search engine for Gen Z, so it makes sense that Gen Z users could also search for employment opportunities on the app. It also makes sense brands looking for young talent may turn to the app for job postings. But are marketing managers and recruiters watching TikTok videos and accepting them instead of resumes? To find out, I asked recruiters at HubSpot and surveyed marketing decision-makers for their thoughts on resumes in the form of TikTok videos. Here's what you need to know if you're thinking of filming your next resume. What is a TikTok resume? A TikTok resume is a 60-second video posted to TikTok showcasing the job experience, skills, and creativity of a user looking for employment. To ensure the resume reaches recruiters, job candidates must include #TikTokResumes in their posts. Below is an example of a TikTok resume: Almost half of TikTok users in the U.S. are between the ages of 10 and 29, so the program likely...

Which SEO Metrics Matter Most to Marketing Leaders, According to Semrush’s VP of Brand Marketing

SEO Strategy
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Which SEO Metrics Matter Most to Marketing Leaders, According to Semrush's VP of Brand Marketing Having a strong SEO strategy is critical for reaching new audiences and generating leads for your business. In fact, 43% of marketing directors, VPs, and C-suite executives reported SEO as one of the most effective strategies their companies currently leverage. Creating a powerful SEO strategy requires consistent testing and iteration. Over time, certain metrics can help you identify which areas of your strategy are working — and which aren't. It can be difficult, however, to determine which SEO metrics actually matter. To truly evaluate the success of your SEO, what should you pay attention to? Organic traffic? Leads? Keyword rankings? Conversions? Here, I sat down with Semrush's VP of Brand Marketing, Olga Andrienko, to discuss the SEO metrics she'd advise leaders pay attention to in 2023. Let's dive in. The SEO Metrics That Matter Most, According to Semrush's VP of Brand Marketing 1. Focus on the metrics that tie directly back to revenue — like conversions and new MRR. You might've expected Andrienko to start with organic traffic or rankings as a top SEO metric, but instead, she advises leaders to start with the bottom line — revenue — and work backwards. Andrienko told me, "When we discuss quarterly goals, we always look at new user monthly recurring revenue (new MRR). And, in that case, conversion is the only thing that matters. I think the metrics that matter are the ones that...

The Great Resignation: How It’s Changing Hiring for Companies and Job Prospects [+ Expert Insight]

Job Search
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The Great Resignation: How It's Changing Hiring for Companies and Job Prospects The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that over 47 million Americans quit their jobs in 2021 — this is what’s now known as The Great Resignation. As there has been a significant increase in the number of vacant positions and the number of workers who have left their position, it makes sense that hiring priorities may have changed. In this post, we’ll discuss The Great Resignation's impact on hiring with insight from marketing decision-makers and expert HubSpot recruiters. Has The Great Resignation Impacted Recruiting? Gabby Reynoso, a Marketing Recruiter, says, “What the great resignation has done is highlight the importance of flexibility, growth opportunities, and work-life balance in the workplace.” She adds that the pandemic has empowered employees, more than ever, to prioritize flexibility, growth opportunities, and work-life balance in the workplace in their current positions and those they are considering. Kanani Rose, a Senior Sales Recruiter, says, “Anecdotally, I’ve seen a bit of a cool-down in this phenomenon as the market continues to be unpredictable, but I’m certain that one of the long-term effects of the Great Resignation is that workers will continue to be interested in the scope of their work, from a wider lens than just their general job responsibilities.” This can include health insurance, financial benefits, 401K, stock options, work from home stipends — incentives that are becoming just as important as the job itself. She also says that compensation and...

The Top 10 Marketing Challenges Expected Globally in 2023 [HubSpot Data + Expert Tips]

Marketing Strategy
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The Top 10 Marketing Challenges Expected Globally in 2023 Every marketer faces different challenges. And, ever since 2020, the ways we've had to pivot, adjust campaigns, and address challenges has been unlike anything many of us have had to do before. And, even if you've somehow navigated the past three years without any surprising or tough marketing challenges, there's likely at least one task, tactic, or strategy you've always wanted to improve upon.  Today, marketing is so fast-paced that it can be difficult to identify which areas you'll want to develop to facilitate stronger growth in 2022 and beyond. For that reason, it's important to pause for a moment and reflect on the biggest challenges marketers feel they're facing this year. Below, let's review the current global marketing issues impacting the industry, according to data from HubSpot's 2023 Marketing Industry Trends Report and marketing experts. 1. Generating Traffic and Leads While this was the second biggest marketing challenge in 2022, it's the top challenge marketers will focus on in 2023, with 19% of survey respondents saying it will be their biggest hurdle. As you might expect, generating traffic and leads is always top of mind with marketers. And, even if teams are doing well with these metrics, they'll always want to improve them.  Why It's a Challenge John Lee, Head of Evangelism at Microsoft Advertising, believes that generating leads will be a particularly big challenge for marketers. He told me, "Getting quality traffic isn't a challenge...

10 Creator Economy Startups Marketers Should Know

Creator Economy
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10 Creator Economy Startups Marketers Should Know As the creator economy continues to expand, so do the needs of content creators. Whether it's crowdfunding, financial guidance, or new ways to connect — there are many moving parts content creators must consider to be successful. Fortunately, new creator economy startups are providing the tools, resources, and platforms needed to make the business side of content creation easier for digital creatives. From marketplaces to website building tools to fresh opportunities to connect with followers — let's explore several of the creator economy startups that are game-changers for content creators. 10 Startups Contributing to the Creator Economy Huddles Ko-fi Fanhouse Beacons Pearpop Buy Me a Coffee Cameo Passionfroot Karat Bildr Top Creator Economy Startups Here are 10 of the top creator economy startups boosting the creator economy: 1. Huddles Originally called "Clash," this video-hosting app was initially released in January 2020 as a successor to Vine. Like Vine, Clash allowed users to upload short-form videos between 2–16 seconds long. Clash rebranded to Huddles in August 2022 when the company decided it wanted to move away from "infinite scroll" feeds and avoid competition with TikTok. Instead, Huddles allows content creators to upload short-form videos directly to their profiles or their Huddles group chats. Creators can also monetize their content on the platform by having fans pay monthly subscriptions to paywalled content or private conversations. The Huddles app is...