I tested 8 AI tools for graphic design — here are my prompts, results, and recommendations
My graphic design journey started on Fiverr. I used to sell banners and background removal services for $5. I am not the best designer. Far from it. However, tools like Photoshop and Canva helped me create decent graphics by editing my way through their premium templates. Even with these shortcuts, it was still a lot…
The top search engines other than Google [+ some you might not expect]
Google remains the top search engine, with a significant market share of more than 89%. This means that 89% of all searches take place on Google. And if this is true, why do marketers need to think about alternative search engines? I think there are two main reasons. Firstly, search is changing. Below, I share…
Why creator marketing works for any business [Tips from a creator consultant]
It’s time to drop the baggage around the word “influencer.” If you’re a maw-and-paw restaurant, and a local foodie with 300 followers agrees to rave about how bangin’ your pot pie is? Mazel tov! You’re doing influencer marketing. “‘Influencer’ is just a general category for anyone that is able to get an audience to take…
What are brand identity elements? A marketing pro dives in
Picture the Starbucks siren logo. Now picture it in bright HubSpot orange. How wrong does that feel to you? Like any brand identity, the Starbucks identity requires many elements working together to connect with you, the consumer. The siren graphic, the right shade of green, the logo’s round shape — you need everything to get…
How to create a content style guide [+ free guide & examples]
Every content team has a different idea of what ‘on brand’ means — until you write it down. I’ve found that having a content style guide is vital to getting it right without multiple revisions or rewrites. I’ve seen long documents and cheat sheets, and both work as long as they explain why you do…
Don’t just grow to grow: Real talk from a serial founder
There are some lessons you only learn when life hits you hard. This week’s master stared down the loss of his business — “All of Q4 was the biggest punch in the face for me that year. It was the most stressed I’ve ever been in my life.” — and came out the other side…
AI meets customer experience: Mapping journeys with machine learning
As a customer experience professional, I’m hyper-focused on finding ways to improve the customer journey, and I’m always looking for tools to help me analyze customer insights. For me, AI tools are at the intersection of those two initiatives, especially when it comes to building out or improving the customer journey. I started looking into…
15 crucial questions to ask prospects throughout the buyer’s journey, according to HubSpot’s former sales director
If you’re still ignoring buyer journey questions, it’s time to pause and rewind. I say so because sales is now an increasingly consultative profession. Success today is less about “always closing” and more about “always helping” as a knowledgeable, reliable person that buyers can trust. Genuinely helping prospects demands providing them helpful and specific resources…
Voice is the new logo: Why your brand’s tone matters more than ever
A few years ago, I was in charge of presenting a big marketing strategy deck to a senior executive. My team and I prepared a script that went something like this: “In Q3, we’ll deliver a unified editorial calendar. Subject matter will reinforce key audience pain points. We will increase paid media investments to leverage…
4 types of emails that get the most engagement [+ 4 emails that fail]
My inbox is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re gonna get (with apologies to Forrest Gump). Just today I received: A newsletter from Monumental Sports Network celebrating the career of Nicklas Backstrom, a beloved player from the Washington Capitals who just departed the NHL. I’m a fan. I engaged; I clicked…
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