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Even though it’s 2020, your business can start to build your omnichannel marketing strategy. First, you will want to learn about the three steps for implementation.

1. Identify Your Buyer Persona
2. Choose Communication Channels
3. Find Omnichannel Marketing Software

After addressing those initial steps for implementation, we will go over 5 omnichannel practical tactics to apply to your omnichannel marketing strategy.

• Inform Your Team
• Customer Data
• Segment Your Audience
• Adjusting Your Webpage
• Adapt and Improve

 Use this guide to help you get started and to see the benefits it can bring to your company. 

1. Identify Your Buyer Persona

Your customers have a buyer persona. This means that you have a specific type of customer that your products appeal to. When you identify your buyer persona, you can address these questions to adjust your business to your customers.

• What products have the highest sales from my business?
• If I was a customer, what would I want the business to change?
• What improvements will appeal to my customers?

When you keep your customers in mind and identify their persona, you can build off of that information. Since omnichannel marketing puts customers at the center of the business, you need to think about your customers. This will help you to figure out how you can gear your business towards their needs. 

2. Choose Communication Channels

When you get into omnichannel marketing, you need to consider the different channels available and pick ones that your customers will use. Different channels provide various benefits that help your business to communicate with customers.

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As you consider your buyer persona, you can identify channels that work for your company. For example, websites, email, and social media are the most effective channels overall. But there is more and more buzz about SMS marketing trend. Make sure to use those channels and to identify other channels that will help your omnichannel marketing strategy.

3. Find Omnichannel Marketing Software

Omnichannel marketing focuses on integrating different channels to make a unified experience for customers. This involves work and making sure that the channels have similar messages and style. This is near impossible for a person to tackle on their own, so getting omnichannel marketing software will help you to set up and implement your strategy.

Having software that keeps everything in one place makes it easier for your business since you can easily access all the necessary information. You can access the software and see how the different channels perform and work together. This simplifies things for you and avoids unnecessary complications when starting an omnichannel marketing strategy. 

Now that you know the basic steps to begin omnichannel marketing, here are five key practical tactics to improve and build upon your strategy.

4. Inform Your Team

As you integrate omnichannel marketing into your business, you need to talk with your team and make sure they know about the changes. If people don’t know about the shift, they will keep doing things the same way they did before. By telling them about the change, people can prepare for it, avoid miscommunication, and adjust their current work to fit the new model.

By informing your team, you help yourself and you help them by avoiding the following.

• People not knowing how to handle the new omnichannel marketing strategy.
• People stressed out and not working to their full potential.
• Misunderstandings and mistakes from lack of communication.

Make sure to talk with your team. Tell them what will change and specific details. Let them know how it affects their work and the changes they need to make. This will help them in the transition process and allow them to welcome the change instead of fearing it.

5. Customer Data

As you implement your omnichannel marketing strategy, you can collect data about your customers. You can see how many people visit your website, how many people view your emails, and other important information. 

This will inform you about the types of messages that attract customers. When you notice a trend in your customer data, you notice a trend that works and draws in more revenue. Take advantage of those trends so you can maximize your profits. 

6. Segment Your Audience

Your audience will have different types of people in it. This includes age, interests, and other demographics. You will sometimes send out messages that apply to some customers but not to others. This is when you segment your audience: you send messages or information to specific groups with the highest chance of responding to get the best results.

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You can segment your audience in different ways. The image above gives four suggestions for you to consider when segmenting your audience. The way you do so depends on what you feel will be best for your company. Look at your information and your customers and segment them in a way that will bring you the highest profits. 

7. Adjusting Your Webpage

When designing a webpage, you need to think about the different ways that people may look at your website. Not everyone will go on their computer or laptop to view your website, so you need to design it in a way that looks appealing for all formats. This includes mobile devices since many people shop on their phones. 

To make sure that your website functions properly on all devices, have people test it out. Try different devices, phone brands, and web browsers to ensure that your website stays consistent. If any of the testers point out errors, mistakes, or inconsistencies, spend some time fixing those things to keep your customers happy. 

8. Adapt and Improve

You should always seek to improve your omnichannel marketing strategy. Keep these questions in mind so you can continue to adapt your business to your customers’ needs.

• What are some things my customers like that I should keep doing?
• What do my customers dislike that I should stop?
• How can I adjust the current process to retain more customers?

These are only a few of the questions you can ask yourself to improve your business. As you focus on your omnichannel marketing strategy and look for ways to improve it, you can retain more customers and continue to adapt to their needs. This will show customers that you are mindful of their needs and that they can trust your business. 

Final Comments

An omnichannel marketing strategy can seem like a large task at first, but when you break it up into parts, you make it easier to understand. Focus on the initial implementation then use the five tactics to fine-tune your strategy. Doing so will help you to work with an omnichannel strategy in a way that helps customers and your business. 

The post The Omnichannel Marketing Guide for 2020 appeared first on Digital Marketing Through Content & Influence.

The industrial revolution in America changed everything. 

People started moving out of their farms and started working for wages in factories. Railroads, transportation systems, and infrastructure was being developed. People began to travel several miles for work. 

Eventually, people got used to working from an office. It became a regular feature of a working person’s life.

With the advent of the internet and technology, the work-from-home has seen a significant revival. In the last decade, the number of people working from home has dramatically increased. Today, more than 8 million people in the US work from home. 

People realize the many benefits of working from home. Even companies are encouraging their employees to work remotely because it saves them costs in office space and gives them access to a broader pool of talent. 

Another reason for the revival of the work from home concept is the massive growth of the gig economy. There are a whole new bunch of workers, who are freelancers and work for multiple companies on specific gigs. There are so many freelancing sites where gig workers can bid for gigs. 

Here are some of the reasons why people love working from home: 

Flexibility

Having control over your day is among the major benefits of working from home. This is because you can set as well as modify your working hours to meet the requirements of your lifestyle. If you feel like you want to take a power nap during the day, you sleep. If you feel like doing your work late at night, you can plan your work time then. Many companies typically allow their remote employees to choose their working hours.

More importantly, companies only care about the work getting done. They do not care what time of the day you work. Freelancers who are effective can get more done in less time, and get paid for the amount of work done instead of the number of hours they work. 

In a survey done by Flexjobs, 68% of the respondents said flexibility was one of the most important factors in their job. Survey respondents included entrepreneurs, freelancers, stay-at-home moms, digital nomads, and students. The survey clearly shows that people from various professions are looking for flexibility in their jobs. 

No More Commuting

Working from home reduces job-related travel issues. Most Americans usually spend lots of money on fuel. There are additional expenses that many don’t consider, such as wear and tear on the vehicle, tolls, and car maintenance. Commuting is not only unpleasant and stressful, but it also consumes a lot of time that would otherwise be used in doing other productive things. 

Those people living in bigger cities know the pain that comes with rush hour and bumper-to-bumper traffic while going to and from work. It consumes energy and puts you in a bad mood in the morning. It also takes away your time for your family. While working from home, you are at your office as soon as you wake up.

About 42% of respondents in the flexjobs survey cited “commute stress” as one of the most important reasons to seek a remote job. 

More Time for Personal Pursuits

No more taking up a lot of time in the office or on the job premises. Working from home allows you to have a flexible schedule. This means that you can create time for your children and family or pursue passionate hobbies.

More productivity

Work from home can make some people more productive. This is because they don’t get distracted by their co-workers, and they are usually in a quiet environment. The lack of office disturbances makes it easier to concentrate and get the work done. Besides, the work environment is in the worker’s control. Workers can personalize their work environment according to their tastes, and find ways to optimize their productivity.

In fact, in a survey, more than 86% of workers said they are more productive when they work alone, without any distractions. 

Improved employee retention

Employees sometimes move to another city to be with their spouse, or close to their families; which can cause them to leave their jobs. Companies that allow employees to work remotely are less likely to lose an employee because they moved to a different city. 

Home-based employees are generally happier when they work from home. It’s especially convenient for parents who have childcare responsibilities since it gives them better flexibility to take care of their children. Besides, working from home is such an attractive work benefit, and employees who have experienced it are less likely to leave for another firm that does not offer flexible working schedules.

No office supplies

Companies spend a substantial amount of money on maintaining an office. The costs of rent, electricity, maintenance, office supplies can all add up and reduce the profitability of the company. The company can use these savings to offer better incentives to their remote workers. 

Fewer sick days off

Cases like food poisoning and colds make going into the office a miserable thing, but working from home is not so bad even if you have a little cold. Homeworkers take fewer sick days off. 

It is because employees who might have a cold or a mild sickness can still get the work done from home, while office employees tend to take the whole day off. Additionally, the enhanced work-life balance means that employees are less likely to get sick in the first place since their stress levels are usually lower. Another additional benefit is that there is no sharing of illnesses, thus, an excellent way to improve the work environment

Comfortability

During cold days, you cover yourself in a blanket and continue working from the comfort of your couch, which makes one productive as there are no psychological thoughts of how one will reach a workplace.

More Time with Family

Since there is no waste of your valued time on traveling, you have enough time to spend it with your family. You can watch the children in the morning and do your work in the afternoon. You will also have time to attend school events, which you had missed previously. You also have time to meet and mingle with your friends. It strengthens your relationships. 

Closeness to home and family

For the majority, the physical proximity to family as well as the convenience that comes with being at home is very comforting. It can be calming for parents to know that they are very close to their kids, and they are also available should the need arise. This case also applies to elderly care. Most women find it tough balancing their family and work. The same case applies to men as well. Working from home allows you to work from home thus, giving you the much-required flexibility to spend good time with your family. You will plan your timetable and create time for your family. This can be impossible when you have to travel or when you have to work until late in the office.

The Office Can Be Anywhere

Just as you can work from home, you cannot be tied to work at your house entirely. This means that you can change the location of your job either to a coffee shop or even sit by a beach. You can also do your job while on vacation. Work can be done during live concerts, or while listening to your favorite music. 

Work Attire

You can wear whatever you want while working at home. There no blazers, dress pants, suits, and ties as it may be required to wear while you go to an office. In this case, your wardrobe may not be of so much significance and thus can wear whatever you are comfortable with. There’s no need to make your hair or apply makeup, or even have a shower. 

Time for appointments

Working from home allows you to have time for appointments to your physician, and doctors; during your breaks, this may not happen when attending your office-based jobs. 

Increased talent

When working from home, companies can hire the best professional, talented employees, despite where they are and who they are. This means they can work with anyone, anywhere in the world and may not be necessarily residing in the company’s location. 

Nobody watching you

You can work at your own pace when you feel fresh, and the concentration levels are at the highest. Working from home, you don’t have that shame or guilt of being late. There is no one physically watching you. 

Employees won’t always feel the need for a vacation

When working from home, you feel like it’s a break from the routine office work. Since work from home employees are location independent, they can work even when they are on vacation. 

Stay away from useless meetings

Workers, especially those in offices, are required to attend office meetings that are a must, and sometimes these meetings may be of no value. By working from home, you may not worry about these unworthy meetings. The only meeting that you may need to attend is with your clients and managers either on the phone or on Skype. 

Access to healthier food

As many workers are busy in the morning, they find little or no time to make a healthy meal. The benefit of working from home is that you can have ample time to access the kitchen anytime, which means that whenever you are hungry, you can have ready health food at your disposal. This may include fresh food rather than vending machine snacks.

More sleep

Most workers are not getting the six to eight hours of recommended sleep. Insufficient sleep can make our immune system weak, which can cause illnesses and lower productivity at work. All the time saved on commuting can be used to get a good night’s sleep. 

Less stress

The stress of commuting daily in bumper-to-bumper traffic at rush hour is very counterproductive and usually leads to dissatisfied workers. This is because they get exhausted and worn out even before they have begun their day. This is a reality, especially when the place of work is far from home. Additional stresses include hostile coworkers, a suboptimal work environment in addition to continuous distractions. Working from home reduces stress, and it’s a way to improve the work environment

Conclusion

Employees who have control over their work schedules have reduced stress. They usually get time to eat better and exercise more. They have higher spirits and a healthier attitude in general. They can plan their time and do their work as needed. Work from home is here to stay. Many companies are beginning to realize the importance of work from home, and are offering their employees incentives to work from home. 

The post Why People Love Working from Home appeared first on Digital Marketing Through Content & Influence.

After that post, one of the companies I listed came back to my blog and posted a whole post about them.

That company is Glamping Hub and they're back on the blog today! If you don't know much about them, think of them like an AirB&B for glamping locations. Here, check out the previous post: Glamping Hub an Insider’s Look at the New Way to Find Outdoor Adventures.

I like them because some of their locations look awesome and because you can make money if you have a property that could be used for camping, or erm, rather, glamping.

But I really like them because they seem to really want to help the property hosts succeed, they're constantly improving and listening to feedback and just recently they revamped their whole dashboard.

If you’re looking to explore the great outdoors and cross glamping off your 2019 bucket list, Glamping Hub is the place for you. With over 34,000 unique accommodations in over 120 countries, Glamping Hub offers a portal of glamping sites across the globe, from which travelers can tailor their nature experience.

Whether you’re looking to get lost in the branches of California’s redwoods from the comfort of a tree house or spend your days horseback riding through Yellowstone National Park while staying in a safari tent, there are thousands of experiences available for each and every type of glamper.

Glamping Hub has begun 2019 with one of its most exciting developments yet—a brand new version of our Host Dashboard.

The new dashboard to be released soon, is where all Glamping Hub hosts can interact with the support team; update their listings’ features, fees, text, and photos.

The dashboard is where hosts can also manage their bookings, calendars, and rates; it provides opportunities to manage their properties unlike ever before.

Listing maintenance for hosts is also much easier and quicker in the new dashboard, thanks to the usability of its new fresh design.

Here is a breakdown of all the new features and improvements:

1 Smart Calendar

Glamping Hub’s host calendar system has been updated to be more user-friendly and allows hosts to easily update their availability. The display has also been modified and simplified to work for both the desktop and mobile phone versions.

2 New Inbox

The creation of a new general inbox will allow guest messages to be received in an organized fashion and make new inquiries appearance more clear.

3 Notifications

All host notification emails have been completely redesigned. This new feature will give hosts clear and easy to receive details about their booking requests, confirmations, upcoming bookings, cancellations, and any important messages from Glamping Hub and guests.

4 Help Center

This new space will allow hosts to quickly search for answers regarding their new dashboard. For any questions hosts need immediate answers to, they can simply search in the Help Center or contact the direct support line within their dashboard.

5 Intuitive Design

The new dashboard has been designed to be much more intuitive in order to make it easier and more clear for hosts to navigate and use.

For more information on how to list with Glamping Hub and plan your next one-of-a-kind glamping getaway, please visit Glamping Hub.

The post Improved Ways to Make Money with Your Glamping Hub Listing appeared first on Digital Marketing Through Content & Influence.

Whether you are looking to up your vacation game or want to try your hand at hosting guests, glamping may just be the answer. After reading Oscar's previous article about how to make extra money online and offline, we noticed we Glamping Hub is included so we thought it’d be nice for you all to find out a little more about us—from both a host’s and a guest’s perspective.

Who is Glamping Hub?

Glamping Hub is the first online booking platform and leading portal for unique outdoor accommodations, and the website features more than 35,000 accommodations in over 115 countries. Glamping, or glamorous camping, is a way for travelers to stay in the great outdoors without having to sacrifice creature comforts—camping with added luxuries and five-star amenities.

How to become a Glamping Hub host

If you’re looking to make some extra money, all you’ll need is a unique accommodation in a nature-based location and the desire to help guests create some special memories with their loved ones. Once you’ve got all of that, it’s as easy as sending a request through Glamping Hub’s List With Us page.

All you have to do is fill in a few quick text boxes with your contact information, the name of your property, a URL, and voila! We take care of the rest of the work for you—including researching your property and the area, writing the text, adding photos and reviews, and more.

The end result is a unique, curated listing with original content that is SEO driven in order to optimize traffic to your accommodation on our website from Google.

Meanwhile, our support team is in contact with the host and will set up a tutorial of the host’s dashboard, which is the user profile and platform we have for our hosts to edit their listings, manage bookings, update their calendars, and various other administrative tasks.

It’s important to us that our hosts feel comfortable using our platform in order for them to succeed and know what to do from the moment they receive their first booking request.

Why become a Glamping Hub host

Glamping Hub’s booking platform is one-of-a-kind—it’s both specialized and transactional, which provides a unique opportunity for our hosts to receive traffic and bookings from a tailor-made, yet expansive, audience.

To get technical for a second and help put things in perspective, just two years ago, in 2016, Glamping Hub received 2.6 million visits, which resulted in 12,000 booking requests and $2.1 million in revenue—and by the end of 2018, that will have tripled. Moreover, the average ticket price for a two-night stay is USD 500.

As a Glamping Hub host, our support department does much more than get you and your host dashboard ready to receive your first booking. You’ll also have access to the Glamping Hub customer support team seven days a week to help you with anything you may need, from adding new accommodations and altering text and rates to managing requests and beyond.

Why become a Glamping Hub guest

On the whole, experience-based travel and placing a strong and purposeful emphasis on the “customer experience” is on the rise in the travel industry. While this upswing may require other travel companies to make major changes in their business models, this is something that has naturally been at the core of Glamping Hub from the very beginning.

Perhaps one of the most unique things about glamping—apart from the interesting accommodations (like tree houses and tipis, to name but a few) and locations—is that the hosts frequently play an integral role in the experience that these destinations provide.

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Think of it like this: Arriving at one of our glamping sites is much like getting to a new city and meeting an old friend who is going to show you all the best places to go, eat, and enjoy. They’ve lived there for years and have all the best insider knowledge, and we all know that type of person is exactly who you want to introduce you to a new place.

In fact, many of our glamping accommodations offer special, on-site opportunities, thanks to the knowledgeable hosts who run them, their passion for their glamping sites and the area surrounding, and their own unique hobbies.

The list is endless: yoga and meditation classes; cooking courses; wine and olive oil tastings; medicinal herb garden tours; zip-lining; and so much more.

Going glamping with Glamping Hub is 100% what you make of it—whether you’re looking for a relaxed weekend away with a good book and a glass of wine or your inner adventurer is desperate for its next adrenaline fix. No matter what type of vacation you seek, the beauty of glamping is that you can personalize your getaway to be exactly what you want.

The post Glamping Hub an Insider’s Look at the New Way to Find Outdoor Adventures appeared first on Digital Marketing Through Content & Influence.