![\"How](\"https:\/\/t2mio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/introduction-channel-benchmarks-2017.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Source: Smart Insights<\/a><\/p>\n Fortunately, it\u2019s relatively easy to learn the basics of email marketing. Just follow these steps:<\/p>\n First, create a profile of your ideal customer. Who is most interested in what you have to offer? What problems does that person have, and how can your solution help them solve those problems?<\/p>\n Once you know the kind of people you\u2019d like to target, use LinkedIn to find them and an email verification tool<\/a> to check their email addresses.<\/p>\n Finally, create your email. Remember to personalize – people don\u2019t like reading generic emails. If you make the recipient feel that you\u2019re writing specifically to them, they\u2019re more likely to open and read your email. Here\u2019s how Zest does it:<\/p>\n Notice how Yam writes as if he were writing to a friend. The email is not about Zest, but about the value Zest can offer to the email recipient<\/a>. There is also a clear call-to-action.<\/p>\n Use the recipient\u2019s name, use an informal, friendly tone, and don\u2019t forget to ask them to comment, like, and share your blog post.<\/p>\n Social media is an excellent platform for promoting content. According to the Digital 2020 Global Digital Overview<\/a>, active social media users have reached 3.8 billion. That\u2019s almost half of the total global population!<\/p>\n Social media marketing is not just a matter of posting and waiting for people to visit your blog. It\u2019s essential to have a cohesive social media strategy in place. Consider the following:<\/p>\n When you hear \u201csocial media,\u201d you probably think of the big three – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – and perhaps LinkedIn. But don\u2019t discount other platforms.<\/p>\n Social bookmarking sites such as Digg and Reddit allow you to use tags to organize your posts. They also have an \u201cupvoting\u201d system, giving more exposure to popular posts. There are also niche social bookmarking sites such as Zest, which carries marketing content, and DesignFloat, which is for the design industry.<\/p>\n On reciprocal sharing sites, you can earn credits for sharing other people\u2019s posts, and then spend your credits to promote your work. Viral Content Bee is one such platform.<\/p>\n Wherever you\u2019re posting your content, you\u2019ll have much more success if you respond to comments, say thank you for shares, and engage in discussion with your readers.<\/p>\n No man is an island, and that\u2019s particularly true in the blogosphere. You need to build relationships to get your work the exposure it deserves.<\/p>\n Here are some ways you can create and nurture those relationships:<\/p>\n Employ Influencer Marketing<\/strong><\/p>\n Savvy marketers understand the power of influencers. According to BigCommerce<\/a>, 65% of influencer marketing budgets are set to increase this year, compared to a 39% increase in 2018.<\/p>\n Influencer marketing represents big money. According to Mediakix<\/a>, 19% of marketers budgeted between $1000 and $10,000 for influencer marketing annually, while 18% budgeted $100,000 – $500,000.<\/p>\n Source: Media Fix<\/a><\/p>\n Even if your budget is much smaller, you can still make the most of influencer marketing. Here are some ideas for you to consider:<\/p>\n The key to successful influencer marketing is to offer value in return. You\u2019re not asking the influencer for a favor with no benefit to them. Your proposal should represent mutual give-and-take.<\/p>\n Conduct Blogger Outreach<\/strong><\/p>\n The blogosphere is a supportive community. Don\u2019t be afraid to reach out to other bloggers for content partnerships, backlink acquisition, and guest posting opportunities. Guest posting – providing content for another site or blog – is particularly effective because it builds your backlink profile while introducing your work to a new set of readers.<\/p>\n Approach your blogger outreach strategically. Focus on bloggers within your niche, and familiarize yourself with their content by reading a few posts before you reach out. Send a friendly, personalized email, outlining what you\u2019re asking for and what you can offer them in return.<\/p>\n Comment in Other Blogs<\/strong><\/p>\n Making frequent, thoughtful comments on other blogs in your niche is an excellent way to get the attention of the blog owner and other regular commentators. Contribute positively to the discussion, be respectful even when you disagree with something somebody has said, and avoid aggressive self-promotion.<\/p>\n If they like what you have to say, your fellow commentators and the blog owner will check out your blog. If your content impresses them, they\u2019ll share them with other people.<\/p>\n If you have a marketing budget, spending some of it to promote your blog can be a wise investment.<\/p>\n The majority of digital advertising money still goes to Google and Facebook<\/a>, as this graph shows (Facebook also includes Instagram, which the former acquired in 2012).<\/p>\n Source: Wordstream<\/a><\/p>\n However, these two platforms are not your only options. Again, you should use whichever channels your target audience primarily uses. Pinterest offers promoted pins, Twitter has promoted Tweets, and LinkedIn allows sponsored content. You may also want to consider content discovery platforms such as Outbrain.<\/p>\n Tailor your ad to your ideal customer, set your budget, and don\u2019t be afraid to experiment. You might not get it entirely right the first time.<\/p>\n Take advantage of platforms that allow you to curate content, such as Flipboard and List.ly. You can also promote your blog post to a broader audience with content aggregators such as Blog Engage. These sites collect content from other websites and gather it in one place.<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s content syndication, where you can promote your content to third parties, who will then publish it on their websites. Medium is perhaps the best-known content syndication platform.<\/p>\n Finally, don\u2019t forget that you can re-purpose your content. A blog post can be turned into an info-graphic, a slide presentation, a podcast, or a video. People prefer to consume their content in different ways, and presenting it in multiple formats increases your potential reach.<\/p>\n Reaching a Wider Audience<\/strong><\/p>\n Technology offers a multitude of ways to reach and connect with an audience. This article has covered just a few of the most effective methods you can use to promote your blog.<\/p>\n But if doing all of this feels overwhelming, don\u2019t worry! You don\u2019t have to do everything all at once. Start with just one or two strategies and then assess whether they are working for you. Don\u2019t be afraid to tweak your strategy and try different ideas. Start small – you can always add more promotional activities later.<\/p>\n Regardless of the platforms or methods you\u2019re using, remember the golden rule: all decisions must be made with your target audience in mind. Take the time to understand who they are, which platforms they spend time on, and what problems they are trying to solve. If you know your audience and present your content<\/a> appropriately, you\u2019re already halfway to increasing your reach and getting your blog read by the right people.<\/p>\n2. Take Advantage of Social Media Marketing<\/h3>\n
\n
3. Build Relationships<\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/t2mio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/media-fix-influencer-market.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
4. Try Paid Marketing<\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/t2mio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/advertising-statistics-facebook-google.png\")
<\/p>\n5. Leverage Content<\/h3>\n
\n