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12 Best Business Christmas Card Ideas – Custom, Personalized with Logos

Christmas is coming. So is Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year too!  Celebrate the holidays and build your business by sending Christmas cards to your staff, customers and professional associates.

Read on to learn about business card message signatures and printed cards vs electronic email cards. View the gallery of beautiful business Christmas card samples by industry, with your company logo and personalized. >View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

Business Christmas Card Ideas


 

Why Send Business Christmas Cards?

Sending Holiday greetings has become a tradition in most business industries.

It is a good idea to send Christmas cards during the holiday season. Corporate Christmas cards are a low-cost way to strengthen client, customer and colleague relationships.

Also, business holiday cards can be used for marketing your services to prospects. Your card reminds prospective customers of your offerings and keeps your firm forefront in their minds.

How about sending them to all your employees and business network contacts. Expressing your gratitude for their hard work and support of your business goals will be appreciated by the recipients.

NEW DESIGN Vintage style business Christmas Card

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? How to Choose

Consider your audience. Are the majority of your customers and employees celebrating Christmas? If so, then opt for a Merry Christmas card. If not, go more generic with a Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings.

Don’t worry. Nowadays most people are understanding, and appreciative, of a seasonal greeting card – regardless of the verbiage.

>View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

 

Should You Send Printed Cards or Email ECards to Customers?

Please don’t be tempted to save money and send ecards to your clients.   Sure, digital holiday cards are easier and faster. They are not better.

It is a bad idea to send electronic or email cards. Every day business people get hundreds of emails. Your holiday message will be just another thing to delete from their inbox. Email messages lack the tactile pleasure of receiving a beautifully printed with personalized messages.

If your budget is limited, I recommend you sending only your top customers’ printed cards to save you money. If that is out of your budget, then simply call them and wish them happy holidays. Your associates will appreciate the time and effort you spent to wish them Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Happy New Year.

>View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

Professional Business Christmas Card Messages

There are lots of ways to send your best wishes to your staff and customers. Here are some of the best messages for your corporate holiday cards. Then sign your business cards cards with your personal signature.

  • Best wishes for a happy new year filled with health, happiness, and spectacular success
  • A World of Good Wishes. One of the real joys this holiday season is the opportunity to say thank you and wish you the very best for the new year
  • Happy New Year. May you soar into the new year filled with health, happiness and prosperity
  • Best wishes for a happy holiday season and our sincere thanks for your loyalty and goodwill throughout the year
  • Wintry Wishes. May this season bring you the gifts of peace, hope and joy.

Tips for Sending Business Holiday Cards

  1. Be First – Purchase and mail your cards early so that they will be the first to arrive. Your cards will be more appreciated and remembered than the 100th card of the season.
  2. Be Memorable – Select a card that is both beautiful and unique to stand out among the other company cards.
  3. Write a Personal Note – Take a moment to pen a quick note to make the card an extra special greeting. Recall a positive memory of the person. Or add your own sentiment.
  4. Add Your Business Cards – Slip in your business card. This makes it easy for the receiver to send you a holiday card or give you a call.
  5. Include Thanks – Send your appreciations for all their hard work, support and patronage throughout the year.
  6. Double check your list – Review your mailing list to be sure that you have your customer’s most current address and that they are complete. All US addresses should have a zip code with the plus 4-digits for best deliverability.
  7. Add Holiday Stamps – For no additional cost, you can add a festive look to your card envelopes by using holiday postage stamps.

>View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

 

Business Christmas Card Gallery

These cards are perfect for sending to business clients, staff and colleagues. Whatever your business style, or preference, there is a perfect card here for your company.

 

This business Christmas card delivers the maximum brand building with your company name on the front cover.  I like the homey feel of the red barn door wreath. It adds a warm touch to your corporate greeting.

>View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

This business holiday card can be customized with both your company name and logo on the front cover.  The bright shiny silver and blue design will brighten up your employees’ holidays. >View 500+ business Christmas cards

Economy Business Christmas Cards

Low-cost cards can be beautiful. Here are a few ideas for low-priced holiday cards to send your business clients. >View 500+ business Christmas cards

 

This inexpensive Merry Christmas card is timeless. The enchanting snowy scene is simple and pretty.

This Christmas card will only cost your business less than $100 to send to 50 of your most important customers. Thank them for their orders from your company.

>View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

 

Calendar Holiday Cards

Calendar cards keep your business name displayed all year long. Customers appreciate the handy desktop calendar to keep track of their schedules. Perfect for sending New Years’ wishes.

 

This calendar card can be sent all year long to your homeowners and contracting customers. They can use it to track household maintenance appointments.

 

 

Special Coupon Cards

This innovative holiday card is perfect to send to both current and prospective clients. It is a combination of a holiday greeting and direct mail promotion. Attached to the greeting card is a tear-off coupon which contains a discount deal.

You can customize the coupon to your exact specifications. This Christmas card would be perfect for landscapers, painters, handymen, salons, restaurants, and dentists.

 

>View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

 

Business Holiday Cards by Industry

 

Construction Builders & Contractors

I love this humorous card showing Santa working on the building crew.

Another great Christmas card for builders and contractors. Who doesn’t like to see Santa driving the heavy machinery to deliver a Christmas tree!

View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

 

 

Automotive Business

Check out this holiday card for auto businesses. Santa is driving his favorite vintage red truck in a snowy landscape.

 

Real Estate Agencies

Classy and elegant Christmas card for Realtors and Real Estate professionals.

 

Classic real estate Christmas card with a snowy landscape.

 

 

View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

Accounting

Fun holiday greeting card for Accountants showing a tax return used to wrap a Christmas gift.

Landscaping & Lawn Care

Super cute Christmas card for your landscaping business. The card pictures a team of reindeer mowing the lawn!

>View ALL 500+ business Christmas cards

 

How to Protect Your Business from Compensation Claims: Practical Steps to Take

No business is safe from a compensation claim. Although we’ve all seen the advertisements for people ‘injured in an accident at work that wasn’t your fault’, with factory workers getting their hands crushed, or window-cleaners falling off ladders, the reality is that anyone can claim a personal injury, even if it is only minor.

Some people are even willing to injure themselves purposely, or fake or exaggerate an injury, in order to get a pay-out. It’s never a pleasant thing to consider that an employee in your business could or would do this, but it’s still practical to protect yourself in advance. 

family business

 

Get General Liability Insurance

Often the most obvious solution is to get insured. Whether you’re a large business or are just starting up, getting general liability insurance will allow you to know exactly what your policy covers, should an accident at work occur. It also covers other areas aside from personal injury, such as property damage, libel, and slander. Review your general liability insurance each year to make sure you are still covered. 

 

Do Health & Safety Checks

We can’t control everything that happens, but we can try to prevent it. Simply completing a basic health and safety assessment of your workplace will show that you are taking your employees’ welfare into account. Cluttered offices, overflowing computer wires, and general disorganization are all potential hazards.

Even having a spillage in the kitchen could lead to a fall. It could be argued that this is just an accident and not a result of neglect, but if someone is injured due to hazardous conditions that could have been prevented, then they definitely have a claim to make. If your work involves heavy machinery, ensure that regular inspections are carried out. And if there is work being carried out during business hours, such as building work or cleaning, try to keep those areas quarantined, or put up warning signs. 

 

Train Your Employees in case of Emergencies 

In most cases, people won’t know how to react to a medical emergency. By educating your staff on things like First Aid training, you can prove that you took safety measures to avoid injury. You can also ask employees for feedback on office maintenance and whether they have any complaints or suggestions to improve safety in the workplace. This will show that you are prioritizing your employee’s safety and being proactive in creating a safer environment for them to work in. 

 

Lawyer Up 

Someone seeking an injury claim won’t hesitate to contact a workers compensation injury lawyer, so you need to be prepared too. Don’t wait until you’re in hot water to get some professional help. Consult a solicitor for advice to avoid any missteps and keep everything above-board.

 

Saving Face

A compensation claim doesn’t just involve losing money; it can also lose your business respectability. Knowing how to handle this sort of situation in a professional manner is paramount to preserving your reputation. Equally important is your commitment to keeping working conditions suitable for your employees, so as to prevent any potential accidents. 

 

15 Best Fiverr Alternatives for Outsourcing and Freelancing

Looking for good alternatives to Fiverr to make money or hire workers?

Here are 15 of the best sites like Fiverr with reviews of each. Whether you are hiring for micro jobs or looking for freelance sites, this list will help you find work or hire experienced freelancers. Check out this list if you are interested in working as a freelancer online or if you run a business and need help with outsourced gigs.

List of Fiverr Alternatives for Freelancers and Outsourcing

1- Fiverr Pro & Fiverr for Business

If you are frustrated with the quality of Fiverr gigs outsourcing you should consider their PRO or Business options. These features offer the same business model of freelancers offering specific gigs for you to browse and hire or to post yourself and make money.

Fiverr Pro are professionals who have been vetted, verified and have exceptional talent. Only 1% of applicants achieve Pro Status. Top brands use Fiverr Pro such as the New York Yankees and PayPal. As the quality is far superior to standard $5 gigs the costs are also higher, however, you are assured of the best experience and end result.

Freelancers, know that Fiverr Pro even lists local services such as photography. So if you are a freelance photographer located in a major metropolitan area – get more customers by applying to Fiverr Pro

The Fiverr for Business program brings together all your freelancers together making it easier to manage your outsourced team and collaborate on projects. There is no additional fee to use this feature. By combining all your workers into one online team you use one workspace, one payment method and one list of your favorite freelancers.  This is a great platform that removes lots of the hassle of working with Fiverr freelancers on a project.

Get the inside secrets on how to become a Top Fiverr Seller this year in this Udemy course

2- Upwork

 

Upwork operates differently than Fiverr. Instead of browsing pre-defined gigs on Fiverr, Upwork asks you to Post a Job describing your needs. Then qualified professionals will send estimates and proof of their competency.

Generally, the quality of freelancers (and price) are higher than Fiverr. I have used Upwork to hire writers and web developers. More US-based, thus native English speakers are available on Upwork than Fiverr. Language barriers to effective communication can become troublesome on other platforms. The workspace, messaging, time log and reporting are excellent.

Compare Upwork vs 99Designs

 

3- 99designs – Crowdspring, Design Crowd, DesignHill

99designs is a graphic artists marketplaces which uses the crowdsourcing business model. Crowdsourcing is when you submit your requirements and freelancers send you designs ideas and concepts for your review, feedback and purchase.

Recently I used 99designs to create my company logo. I wanted to test it so I could report back on the results and process. Read my 99designs review about my experience and tips on how to get the most from your design contest. I liked the variety of choices, ease of creating design brief (click on logos and colors you like) and the affordable price.

For freelancers, 99designs (or Crowdspring, Design Crowd and DesignHill) are good ways to make money online with your graphic design skills. You get instant access to paying clients where you can get jobs and start relationships for repeat orders. Wondering if 99designs is worth it as a designer? Read this overview first.

 

4-Guru.com

This online marketplace, Guru.com, allows you to browse service gigs to buy and to post a job to get estimates. This flexibility to match your work style preferences is a big plus. The online interface Work Room is very good.

I like the ability to set milestones and delegate tasks and share files with my team. The quality of freelancers is good and so is the customer service.

Freelancers may find it extremely competitive, with three million freelancers competing for jobs. Here are tips from the experts at Guru.com on how to market yourself and win more projects. 

 

5- DesignCrowd

 

DesignCrowd.com is focused on graphic design services, eliminating other gigs such as writing and programming. Their 600,000 graphic designers offer a wide variety of services including; logo design, website, business cards, and T-shirts. To get started, you post a job with your budget and specifications and receive estimates from qualified designers.  While there are many talented designers on the platform the site’s communication workspace is cumbersome and difficult to use.

 

Many freelance graphic designers do well on this platform. Here are tips from Design Crowd to generate leads for your design services.

 

6-Envato Studio

Envato is both an online marketplace to buy outsource services and a store to buy pre-made digital assets. Millions of people around the world choose the Envato Market or Envato Elements. They do so to buy digital graphic or coding files or hire freelancers. You can also enroll in courses to teach you the skills needed to build websites, videos, apps, graphics and more.

Envato Studio is the place to buy or sell freelance services. You can purchase packages for audio, video, animation, wordpress themes and customization, online marketing, websites, programming, and mobile app development. Their offerings are more varied than the design only sites and are affordable.

Freelancers check out this video on how to sell your products and services on Envato. Here is how to get started making money as an Envato Author.

 

 

 

7-PeoplePerHour

 

PeoplePerHour.com offers both pre-packaged services and the ability to post a job and get custom estimates. With over a million freelancers across the globe, you are sure to find the right candidates for your job. Find helpers for data entry, internet marketing, programming, writing and graphic design.

 

Freelancers are paid quickly and can make substantial cash. Here are the top tips for freelancers on PeoplePerHour.

 

8-Freelancer.com

Millions of small businesses across the globe use Freelancer.com to turn their ideas into reality. The interface is clean and easy to use. When you post a job you get free bids and only pay for the satisfactory work that you receive.

Additionally freelancers can find jobs in over 1350 different categories including; website designs, mobile apps, copywriting, SEO, legal, 3D modelling, logo design, data entry and Amazon web services. I have used this site successfully to make money selling my SEO services and for article writing. Payment was quick due to employer deposits.

 

Know that it will take time, and some trial and error, to find good high-paying jobs. High quality freelancers will stand out amongst the many lower quality providers.

 

9-TopTal

At Toptal.com they remove all the hassles of hiring freelancers online by vetting and only accepting the top 3% of applicants. Furthermore, they guarantee the quality of services, reducing both your failure rate and time to find the right candidate. Major brand such as Shopify and Thumbtack rely on this platform. Experts are focused on design and develop, there are no writers or social media managers.

If you are a seasoned professional, you should seriously consider applying. Once accepted you will command large fees and get connected with high-value companies for long term business relationships.

 

10-Nexxt

Both employers and job seekers can search millions of listings across all the focused Career and Local sites on Nexxt. Plus you can sign up for daily emails with job opportunities tailored to your qualifications. Employers can post jobs or search for candidates with special skills and experience.

 

11-TaskRabbit

It’s slogan is, “TaskRabbit connects you to safe and reliable help in your neighborhood”. Designed for homeowners to find their trusted and local handyman for Furniture assembly, TV mounting, help moving, and much more. I like the $1 million dollar property damage guarantee. Their booking app allows you to input your need and be shown qualified workers ready to work.

 

To earn money become a Tasker and earn money your way. Be someone’s hero today. You can find jobs you love, at rates you choose and make a schedule that fits your life.

 

 

12-ContentDaDa

ContentDaDa is content marketplace where we can hire content writers and provide content writing services. Get content for your projects or websites. Freelance writers can use this site to showcase their writing skills to potential clients, grow their contacts and get paid writing jobs.  You can get a branded landing page made by ContentDaDa to grow your business.

 

The site provides employers with access to high-end writers. Contrary to other platforms, there is no fees for employees. Writers pay the commissions for jobs secured via the platform.

 

13-Codeable.io

Codeable is the only WordPress-focused freelancer platform that match customers to the best experts to solve all their WordPress problems. Specialists offer services including; custom website build, e-commerce development, theme customization, plugin development, security and performance optimization plus troubleshooting. You can post a project for fee and receive quotes.

 

To make money apply as an expert. Working on Codeable comes with lots of benefits such as great returning clients, top-notch support, and a $70-120 hourly rate minimum guaranteed.

 

 

14-Outsourcely

Outsourcely connects startups and businesses with talented remote workers from around the world. 400000+ Remote Workers. 50000+ Startups. If you want fast access to verified, highly-experienced workers Outsourcely is better than Fiverr.

Workers are ready to help your company with services for design, multimedia, web development, mobile apps, content writing, administrative support and customer service.

For remote workers, there are hundreds of part and full-time jobs to apply for which are updated daily.

 

15-Truelancer

On this site you can hire freelancers & find freelance jobs online in India, USA, UK and Bangladesh. One of the newest platforms that is getting good reviews for providing quality work for cheap prices. Most of the workers are from third world countries.

 

Other Freelancer & Outsourcing Sites

Microworkers 

An online market place for offering businesses and developers access to an on-demand scalable workforce. Workers can work at home and make money.

 

Gigbucks

Micro workers and micro jobs available online from $5 to $50 dollars.  Their slogan is “Join the web’s favorite micro jobs website for freelancers.”

 

WorkMarket

This is an ADP Company. Here you can track and report freelance spend. Save hours and reduce manual error with automation. Organize, manage and pay freelancers and independent contractors. 1099 payment engine. 7 day support. All-in-one platform. Workforce solution.

 

SEO Clerks

Billing themselves as the largest SEO marketplace on the planet. This site primarily sells Search Engine Optimization services such as back linking and keyword research.

 

Zeerk

Micro jobs and freelance services from $3 to $200. The site claims to, “Connect to the world’s largest list of micro jobs. Make quick cash online or hire a freelancer to complete quick jobs for you.”

 

Damongo

Company testiomonial – “With Damongo you will find wealth of talented Freelancers that are experts in their field of work. We went from a team 8 full time employees working our marketing and online business to ZERO. We replaced our entire team and hired exclusively from Damongo” Lynn Lee, President & CEO of Kambe Media Corp.

 

Workana 

On Workana, you will find freelancers that will help you update your website, design your logo, develop your mobile app, write articles, and much more!

 

Bounty It

You can post or reply to posted “Bounty” (jobs). Recent bountys include naming requests, advice on how to start a business and website feedback.

 

Cheap Jobs

Site that is a one stop for Cheap freelancing needs, hire freelancers online , find freelance jobs online, technology, android app, social media marketing, and data entry.

 

Do Jobs Online

On this site, you can share what you do and make money. Post your project and get it done in short time with cheap payment. Our reputation system will make it easy to find the perfect freelancer for your task.
It’s the simplest and safest way to get work done online!

 

FiverUp

Micro workers and micro jobs online from $4 to $100 dollars. Join the web’s favorite micro jobs website for freelancers. – Best Alternative site Like Fiverr. The company claims that their freelancers are 20% cheaper than similair ones on Fiverr.com

 

Github

GitHub is a development platform inspired by the way you work. From open source to business, you can host and review code, manage projects, and build software alongside 40 million developers.

 

FlexJobs

If you are looking for a paid job search service, to find remote and freelance work, take a look at Flexjobs.

 

Fiverr alternatives sites

 

11 Distinct Disadvantages of a Sole Proprietorship Business

A sole proprietorship is one of the easiest ways to start and operate a business, however, there are distinct disadvantages that you need to be aware of before you start your new company. Here are the top reasons to reconsider forming your business entity as a sole proprietor. 

Its popularity lies in its simplicity because, in order to become a sole proprietor, all you have to do is register your name and acquire a legal license. Moreover, a sole proprietorship is not considered to be a legal entity and therefore is not distinct from the person who owns it.

If you have a registered sole proprietorship, you may operate it using your own name or any other moniker that you like. This is because the business name is merely a trade name. Legally, you are still the owner and the business is not separate from your name.

family business

 

Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorship

This lack of legal distinction can be bothersome for a business owner since you will remain liable for any and all business expenses. If you happen to run into financial trouble, you will have to utilize your own personal assets to bail yourself out. Any lawsuits that arise will be filed directly against you. As a sole proprietor, you will have to pay with your own cash. This distinct disadvantage will be discussed in further detail below.

Alternatively, one of the beneficial factors of owning this type of business is that the taxation process is straightforward. Any revenue earned by the business is earned by the sole proprietor. All you have to do is report this income and fill out a Schedule C, along with Form 1040 for standard taxation. 

Once you file this, the “bottom line amount” from the Schedule C form is put back into your personal tax return. This is great because any losses in business will not diminish other sources of income. What’s more, the most recent tax reform law states that qualifying sole proprietors will be offered new deductions. As a sole proprietor, you can deduct 20% of your Qualified Business Income (QBI). Learn more about how to pay yourself as a sole proprietor

In addition, sole proprietors must pay Self Employment taxes. This is what income tax is to employees of any business. Employed individuals do this through payroll cuts but sole proprietors need to add these payments when they file their income taxes. Most likely you will also need to get an EIN – Employer ID Tax Number. Learn more in our Entrepreneur’s Guide to EIN.

It’s true that a sole proprietorship is a simple way of owning a business. Furthermore, sole proprietors have been known to avail the lowest tax rate out there – 15.1%. However, there are also some distinct disadvantages of a sole proprietorship that make them a less attractive option than other kinds of business structures. These are the must-knows for new entrepreneurs

 

1. Unlimited Personal Liability

One of the most serious disadvantages of a sole proprietorship is unlimited liability. This is because as the owner of a sole proprietorship, your personal assets are on the line.  This is why the majority of small businesses choose to form an LLC (which is easy and affordable) to minimize their risk of losing their personal assets due to business debts.

If a lawsuit is filed against the sole proprietorship, your assets could be confiscated and/or seized to settle any debts or possible bankruptcy. You could lose everything you own, including your house, cars, properties, bank accounts and more.

 

2. Difficulty in Raising Capital

Big corporations can raise capital by selling shares or attracting investors. A sole proprietorship can have no shareholders and cannot take another owner on board in the business. It’s practically impossible to sell ownership in a sole proprietorship which is why you will have trouble finding worthy investors. If you are planning on using investors to fund your startup you are advised to set up a C corporation so you can issue share equities in exchange for money. 

 

3. Lenders Don’t Lend

Moreover, lenders are more hesitant to give out loans to sole proprietors than LLC or INC. You are free to borrow money but you will have to use your own assets as collateral with the financial institution. Again, this means that your assets will be seized if you fail to pay back your loan. This is not true for all lenders.

>More progressive lenders like Kabbage, focus more on your business metrics than your legal formation.

loan calculators for your small business loans at Kabbage

 

4. The Business Dies with You

As the owner of a sole proprietorship, YOU are irrevocably tied to it. Your business is not a separate business entity and therefore, in the tragic event of your demise, your business will die with you. Unlike a corporation, you won’t have the luxury of ‘perpetual existence.’

 

5. Lax Bookkeeping

Since your business has a less formal structure than a corporation, you probably will not bother to maintain regular financial statements and Minutes of Meetings (MOM). If you practice shabby accounting, you’re more liable to lapse in payments or other financial checks and this becomes a real possibility in sole proprietorship and a danger to your business survival.

 

6. Few Days Off

As the sole owner of a business, you will probably not get the luxury of days off. You will have to be present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and so on – even if you are not in the office or shop – your company will be in your thoughts. The work will stop if you stop.

 

7. Increased Stress and Pressure

As a sole proprietor, you will have to be accountable for any and all decisions made in your business. This could mean more stress and less time available for your family and/or personal life.

 

8. Poor Management

You will be responsible for the day to day running of your sole proprietorship. If you don’t have sufficient management experience, you might find yourself making poor or detrimental decisions.

 

9. Less Hiring Prospects

Hiring is difficult for sole proprietors because as a small business, you cannot offer attractive salary packages or perks. Employees also tend to pick larger and more well-known companies on the whole so you might have to shoulder the burden alone. 

 

10. Small Scale Economies

As a sole proprietor, you won’t be able to afford large scale economies for purchasing materials or services. Corporations can reap these benefits since their overhead costs are divided and lower than those of small businesses.

 

11. No Counseling Available

Large corporations have shareholders and board members who gather and consult before making big decisions. On the other hand, sole proprietors don’t have access to these kinds of resources. As a sole entrepreneur, you might run into difficult business challenges and won’t have ready help available to fight them.

 

The Way Forward

Admittedly, sole proprietors have their fair share of problems. However, you should understand that you will not need to stick to the same form of business entity as you start out with. Over time, you can change and incorporate your business to become a proper corporation. Most small businesses follow this model and succeed later on.

A great example is Richard Warren Sears who started a sole proprietorship selling jewelry and watches by mail. Eventually, he entered into a partnership with Alvah Curtis Roebuck and with time, Sears, Roebuck, and Company became one of the United States’ biggest retailers.

You, too, can succeed if you know exactly where you want to go. After you’ve weighed all the pros and cons of sole proprietorship, make the decision of what business entity is best for you. 

>Not sure which business entity is right for you? Take this quiz by the business experts at Legalzoom

sole proprietorship disadvantages and advantages

Email Marketing and Marketing Automation: What will 2020 bring?

What is email marketing and what is marketing automation, really? Why should we, as marketers, care about these two tools and why should we try to, first, define them and then, use them?

More importantly, though: What will the trends of these marketing tools be like in 2020? And why do we need to care, if we want to achieve growth?

Definitions first

Let’s define the term “marketing automation”. When we talk about that, we talk about a tool, a software that allows companies to achieve sales, awareness and, in the end, growth, by automating the classic marketing tactics: lead nurturing, retargeting, content creation and so forth.

Since such a thing is more affordable than one-on-one sales, it’s, by default, the more intelligent choice nowadays.

 

One of the things marketing automation can help with, which can generate a crazy-high ROI all on its own, is email marketing.

(Source)

 

As you can see, email marketing is the preferred channel, and for a good reason. The use of emails that can help brands create and nurture a relationship with prospects and, ultimately, recurring clients is a tale as old as time-or as old as the 70’s when the first email was sent.

 

Email marketing and automation platforms, like Moosend, a great Constant Contact alternative, were eventually created and have been out and about for quite some time. And though we know how they can help brands achieve one of the most important metrics there are, which is conversion rate optimization (CRO), we need to know what to expect from them in the near future.

 

As near as 2020, that is.

Artificial Intelligence? Yes, please

The fantastic thing with today’s marketing automation tools is that they use-and will continue to use-Artificial Intelligence in order to gather and analyze data and let us marketers know exactly when to send that email, without us having to study the behavior of each and every prospect and segment according to the set criteria at the time.

 

Marketing automation will do all that for us and will, additionally, manage to create and improve pieces of content, such as subject lines or chatbot dialogues that won’t feel forced or unnatural.

 

In other words, AI enables us to not only know what to do and does the job for us, but also to not lose that personal touch that is much needed when you’re talking to a prospect.

 

AI can also allow us to find new prospects and engage them with tailor-made offers and content. It can give us clear insight when it comes to the buying habits of the customers. This makes targeting a whole lot easier and allows us to make efficient, data-driven decisions.

 

And since this is not a fad, but something that will continue over time, we can expect email marketing and automation to get a whole new spin down the line.

 

Personalization and interactive email marketing

With so much targeting, data and segmentation, hyper-personalization is bound to happen. An email has stopped being “just an email’, as the demand to stand out continues. The same goes for chatbots, that need to feel more like humans and less like robots.

 

Therefore, emails will continue being tailor-made to meet needs, but they will also become interactive and will begin to resemble microsites more than they do at this point.

 

In the future, brands will be able to create content that will be interactive to the point where they’ll need to know how to create a landing page to convert prospects into customers and lead them down the funnel after they’ve interacted with the email. This will be possible with broader use of video content in the email, for example, or mini-games that will engage, entice and perhaps give out discount codes as well.

 

Email marketing campaigns and marketing automation tools will give us the opportunity to research solutions that weren’t possible or that we wouldn’t have been able to come up with, all on our own.

 

And since marketing is all about predicting desires, this will provide a whole lot of revenue and connection with a brand that knows exactly what their customers need.

Some GDPR action

GDPR was, in all intents and purposes, a frightening practice and experience for brands. However, from a client’s perspective, it had been long overdue.

 

And from a marketer’s perspective, we should all admit that it did more good than we could’ve imagined. So, instead of trying to fight it, follow the rules and see how they can benefit you.

 

You’ll need to be GDPR compliant, regardless of the region. Showing that your brand is transparent and doesn’t follow shady tactics creates a win-win situation for both you and your prospect.

The prospect will, that way, feel safe with entrusting you their data and you’ll win in the form of conversion and trust.

 

Not to mention that GDPR provides an effortless alternative to keeping your list clean and tidy, as a person who is not that interested, will think twice before signing up.

 

And, by making it mandatory for prospects to be able to opt-out whenever needed, you’re one step closer to a super shiny email list!

A different sales funnel

We all know the classic sales funnel that describes the stages of the customer’s journey. And even though we’d love for it to be linear throughout history, this is just not possible, seeing as the customer journey itself has stopped being linear.

 

Nowadays, people can express interest, do research and decide what they’d like to purchase, at the blink of an eye. Prospects can remain prospects forever, they can be moving back and forth from one stage of the funnel to the other, they can remain inactive or move from the top to the bottom of the funnel in a flash.

 

In 2020, this will be even more prominent, and emails will be sent out to prospects that won’t need any information at all, they’ll just need a product, or bottom-funnel customers that will need to know everything about everything.

 

Through email marketing, we’ll be able to create workarounds and stop considering a non-linear funnel to be a problem, as the hyper-personalization mentioned above, will enable us to engage and entice any lead, use multiple touchpoints, and nurture them throughout their experience.

 

Pro tip: If you’re having trouble visualizing a non-linear funnel, maybe thinking like a client and creating a decision tree that will be showcasing your own experience, will help you.

Marketing automation that cleans up the mess

In 2020, there won’t be a brand that bothers with marketing automation and email marketing, that won’t have a tool at the ready, to help clean up their email list.

 

Automation tools will run through each and every one of your leads, check their data, see if they’ve been active or not, and in what ways, and end up hyper-personalizing the content and send out emails that will be relevant, be it opt-out emails or emails with personalized content that will help those leads get re-engaged.

 

By using marketing automation tools to do this, you pretty much eliminate the factor of human error, which is pretty important, and create the proper conditions to increase your conversion rate with interested and qualified leads.

 

Takeaway

Email marketing and marketing automation tools still have a lot to give and can go a long way, up to the point where every task will be on “set ‘em and forget ‘em” mode and all data will be there waiting for you to use them without having to break a sweat.

 

So, what say you? What other trends will there be on the email marketing and marketing automation fields for 2020? What is your prediction?

 

Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to share the knowledge!

 

Author Bio:

 

Téa is a content writer working for email marketing software company Moosend and an obsessive writer in general. In her free time, she tries to find new ways to stuff more books in her bookcase and content ideas-and cats-to play with.