Key Strategies to Reduce Cart Abandonment Rates Via Push Notifications

Move over big chunks of content, users today prefer watching a snackable video instead for just about anything! Why? Because watching a video is simply more engaging than reading blocks of content and there’s an ever increasing number of users preferring to consume video content over anything else on the web. Users like Video so much that more than 85% of users would like to see brands produce more video content in the years to come. And brands are following suit. More than 80% of brands actively use some or the other form of video as their marketing tool and have admitted to continue using it for the next year as the ROI they’re seeing from videos is much higher than what they initially expected. And half of the remaining 20% of brands reportedly said that they plan to fire up their video marketing efforts pretty soon. So, there’s still time to hop on the video bandwagon for your brand if you haven’t yet started with it. But Why Videos? Video is the future of content marketing and brand building, there’s no denying about that. Depending on the way you use it, video can help your audience every step of their buyer journey and can generate a ton of awareness for the products or services you sell. Moreover, Videos help you connect with your audience in a way that plain blocks of content never can and helps spark emotion in your target audience. And when your videos emotionally connect with your audience, it fosters trust and makes them stick to your brand. But you’ll have to use videos strategically and carefully align it with the buyer journey of your customers to get the best results. So, here are a few ways to powerfully use videos to market your brand, stand out from the noise and gain a lot of exposure in 2019 - Share your brand’s story Every brand has a story behind its inception. Every brand has a purpose to fulfill.What better way to showcase your unique brand story with an engaging video? While blogs have been the go-to way for marketers to share compelling brand stories with their audience to make them trust their brand, video is quickly taking over. Publishing brand stories is all about making a glorious first impression, getting in the good books of prospective customers and quickly building an emotional connection with them and video is a perfect match for it. In your brand story video, try creating a video for your brand that clearly showcases what your business stands for, what customers can expect from your business and why your business is different from the rest to make an impact on your audience. Keep your product marketing to the bare minimum in your brand stories, rather focus on the values your products brings to the table. Barbie does it perfectly with their powerful video campaign that clearly showcases what their brand sells… dreams, not dolls. It is an engaging video which powerfully connects and leaves an impact on viewers and puts their brand in the best light possible. Showcase your products or services Videos are a great way to boast about your own products and services and sell it to prospective customers. Other than that, videos can serve as great product explainers tools as well. More than 95% of people agree that they watched a product explainer video to get a better understanding of a product. If you offer a complex product or a SaaS solution, showing a video that clearly tells users how to use it is always better and more engaging that throwing a full-fledged document at their face which elaborates the process for them. For example, Spotify, in their initial years when they were the first of its kind, marketed themselves with the help of a great product explainer video which told users exactly how their product can help them in hearing music that they like, anytime. And the video was responsible for convincing and bringing in initial users for Spotify. Which you can do too. You can take the help of a video-production company or use tools like PowToon that can do it for you. When making product explainer videos, keep it short and precise and focus on highlighting the true value your product delivers so prospects can quickly get a jist of what your product has to offer Other than that, to stand out from the competition, you can create boastful videos about your products or services that shows users exactly how your product is better than the rest to gain an edge and impress prospects right off the bat. Blendtec is a perfect example of a brand that aced video marketing with their one-of-a-kind product videos. Blendtec sells blenders with a tagline of ‘World’s most advanced blenders’ and started a video marketing campaign to showcase the superiority of their blenders in 2006 which went viral instantly. The viral video marketing campaign included a video series of their blenders blending unblendable stuff like phones, cameras and more. The viral campaign still runs to this day and drives valuable sales for their business on a daily basis. Engage with customers by answering their questions Want to showcase yourself as a brand that listens to their customers? Start creating videos where you address the exact questions your customers are asking you day-in and day-out. Creating a video that answers all the burning questions of your existing customers can help you in portraying your brand as the one who cares about their customers and strives to provide them with the best experience, which builds trust with your audience. Moreover, by taking the questions head-on with your video and placing it in your Q/A page, you save yourself a lot of time answering the exact same question to a lot of other users. You can make use of live video on major social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram and go on a live Q/A session with your audience where they can ask you the questions they like and receive answers in real-time. Great for building a strong relationship with your audience. Behind-the-scenes Videos Talking about live-video, you can make use of live-video to give a live sneak-peek to your audience about what happens behind the curtains of your business. Introduce your audience to the people who are responsible for running your brand, broadcast a company event or simply showcase your daily work routine, showing the human side of your brand can go a long way in making your audience trust you. On the plus side, live-videos are great for engaging with your audience as everything happens in real-time. Showcase customer testimonials Another great way to use videos to powerfully market your brand is by publishing customer testimonial videos on your website. When prospective customers see other people raving about your products and services, they automatically get inclined to make the final purchase, that’s the power of word-of-mouth. Many brands are already making use of video testimonials to boost conversions for their business by placing them prominently on their website. You should do it too to help users at the end of their buyer journey make the final purchase decision. Video is a great way to build brand awareness, engage users, provide a great customer experience and boost sales. Whether you are planning to use it soon or have been actively including it in your marketing efforts, keep the above-mentioned ways in mind before you start creating the next video for your business. ...

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Initially designed for sales teams, Salesforce has evolved into a leading CRM platform supporting various organizational functions. While Salesforce offers native capabilities, some businesses prefer third-party Salesforce marketing automation tools available on the AppExchange for unique features or to avoid migrating from existing solutions. However, some businesses prefer third-party email automation tools available on Salesforce's AppExchange for features unique to their needs or to avoid migrating from existing solutions. This guide will explore the top 6 salesforce marketing automation tools, examining their suitability for business needs. What is a Salesforce marketing automation tool? It's a software solution that integrates with Salesforce to automate repetitive marketing tasks, particularly those related to email marketing. These tools can handle everything from sending personalized emails based on customer behavior to tracking engagement metrics and nurturing leads through complex marketing funnels. A good Salesforce marketing automation tool should: Seamlessly integrate with your Salesforce CRM Automate email campaigns based on triggers and customer data Provide advanced analytics and reporting features Offer customizable templates and personalization options Support multi-channel marketing efforts Help align sales and marketing teams Why Choose Marketing Automation Tools with Salesforce? Marketing automation salesforce integration can significantly improve the CRM platform's capabilities. Leveraging marketing automation services can further streamline operations and drive better results. Here are important reasons to consider this integration with your Salesforce setup: Improved efficiency: Automation tools can handle repetitive tasks, which allows your team members to focus on strategy and creativity. Lead Nurturing: With automated workflows, you can guide leads through the sales funnel more effectively, providing timely and relevant content at each stage. Personalized Customer Experiences: Leverage Salesforce data to create highly personalized email campaigns that align with your audience. Better Alignment Between Sales and Marketing: Many tools offer features that help bridge the gap between sales and marketing teams, ensuring a cohesive approach to customer engagement. Top 6 Email Marketing Automation Tools Third-party integrations 1. HubSpot Marketing Hub HubSpot Marketing Hub is an excellent choice for Salesforce users seeking a comprehensive SaaS marketing automation solution. It's known for being easy to use and having strong features. HubSpot has a special integration with Salesforce that allows easy data sharing between the two, making marketing tasks more efficient. Key features: Bi-directional sync with Salesforce Robust email marketing tools with drag-and-drop editors Advanced lead scoring and nurturing capabilities Detailed analytics and reporting A system for managing content to produce landing pages and blogs Social media management tools Best For: Businesses of all sizes want a marketing tool that works well with Salesforce and has more features than just email marketing. 2. Marketo Marketo, now included in Adobe's marketing tools suite, is a powerful marketing automation platform that provides extensive integration with Salesforce. It is particularly well-suited for marketing B2B companies with complex sales cycles and large customer databases. Key features: Bi-directional sync with Salesforce for leads, contacts, and campaigns Advanced lead management and scoring Account-based marketing capabilities Real-time personalization engine Revenue cycle analytics Best For: Mid-size to large B2B companies with complex sales need advanced marketing automation. 3. Act-On Act-On offers a unique approach to growth marketing automation with its Salesforce integration, allowing users to send Act-On emails directly from within the Salesforce interface. This tight integration can significantly streamline workflows for sales and marketing teams. Key features: Native integration with Salesforce Adaptive lead scoring Automated nurture programs Website visitor tracking Landing page and form builders Social media management Best For: Small to mid-size B2B companies looking for an easy-to-use marketing automation solution that integrates well with Salesforce. AppExchange Add-Ons 4. Pardot Pardot, now known as Marketing Cloud Account Engagement, is Salesforce's native B2B marketing automation solution. As part of the Salesforce ecosystem, it offers seamless integration and is designed specifically for users. Key features: Native Salesforce integration Lead scoring and grading Engagement studio for building complex nurture campaigns ROI reporting and analytics Landing page and form builders Social media scheduling and monitoring Best For: B2B companies deeply integrated with Salesforce seek a marketing automation solution native to the Salesforce ecosystem. 5. ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign is a popular choice on the Salesforce AppExchange, particularly for retail and professional services organizations. It offers various features beyond email marketing automation . Key features: Salesforce integration via AppExchange Machine learning-powered predictive sending Automated pipeline management Multi-channel marketing automation (email, SMS, chat) CRM with sales automation Advanced segmentation and personalization Best For: Small to midsize businesses looking for a versatile marketing automation solution with features beyond email marketing. Full-Fledged Solutions 6. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Salesforce Marketing Cloud is an all-in-one marketing solution part of the broader Salesforce ecosystem. It offers email marketing, social media marketing, mobile marketing, and more features. Key features: Integration with Salesforce CRM Einstein AI for predictive analytics and personalization Journey Builder for creating complex, multi-channel customer journeys Robust email studio with advanced personalization options Social media marketing tools Mobile marketing capabilities, including SMS and push notificationsn Best For: Large enterprises already using multiple Salesforce products and looking for a comprehensive, integrated marketing solution. Want to reduce your CAC to half? Book a strategy call Which automation tool is best for Salesforce? These salesforce marketing automation tools offer unique features and benefits, catering to different business sizes and needs. Choosing the best tool depends on various factors, including your business size, budget, specific needs, and existing tech stack. Additionally, considering how a tool supports your marketing automation workflow is crucial for achieving optimal efficiency and results. Here's a quick guide to help you decide: For small businesses new to marketing automation: Consider ActiveCampaign or Act-On for their user-friendly interfaces and affordable pricing. For mid-size B2B companies: HubSpot Marketing Hub or Pardot could be excellent choices, offering robust features and strong Salesforce integration.: For large enterprises with complex needs: Salesforce Marketing Cloud or Marketo provides comprehensive solutions with advanced capabilities. For companies heavily invested in Salesforce: Pardot or Salesforce Marketing Cloud offers native integration and familiarity for Salesforce users. For those prioritizing ease of use: HubSpot Marketing Hub is known for its intuitive interface and excellent educational resources. Remember, the best tool is the one that most closely aligns with your specific business goals and processes. Taking advantage of free trials or demos is often worthwhile before making a final decision. Conclusion Implementing marketing automation with Salesforce can significantly enhance your marketing efforts and streamline customer relationship management. A well-thought marketing automation strategy is essential to maximize these benefits and ensure seamless integration. Options like HubSpot, Marketo, Pardot, ActiveCampaign, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud each offer different strengths, so it’s important to pick one that fits what your business needs. Trying out free trials and demos can help you decide which one works best for you. By integrating marketing automation with Salesforce, you'll be able to send out personalized campaigns and manage your customer relationships more efficiently, helping your business to grow. Interested in seeing how this can work for your business? Contact Saffron Edge today for more information and take your business to the next level. Book a Strategy Call to discover how Saffron Edge can elevate your website with the power of semantic markup. It’s your time to get noticed by both search engines and your audience ...

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Branding is often misunderstood and overlooked by companies solely as having a creative logo, tagline and jingle, but it is more than that. When you talk about branding, there are a lot of other aspects that need to be taken care of, and that’s where branding services help you. Branding services have evolved from a mere aesthetic enhancement to a strategic imperative. The essence of a brand extends beyond logos and colour schemes, encompassing the narrative, emotion, and promise that distinguishes a business in a crowded market. This blog aims to elucidate the critical reasons behind the necessity of investing in professional branding services for businesses aspiring to survive and thrive. As per a report, the primary objective for 70% of brand marketers on social media is to establish and enhance brand awareness. Your brand serves as the face of your business, a silent ambassador that communicates your values and resonates with your audience. Professional branding services function as architects, making each element carefully to ensure that the initial impression is memorable and authentic to your company's identity. Beyond visual aesthetics, these services help in storytelling and showcasing emotions, shaping a narrative that establishes a meaningful connection with your target audience. So, make your brand build an empire in the business world through expert branding services.  We will help you understand all the aspects related to branding and how services-based companies should focus on building their brand. So, let’s get started with the pool of information you need about branding services. What is Branding, and Why is it Important? Branding serves as the process through which a company forges its unique identity, encompassing various elements like logos, taglines, visual designs, and tones of voice that collectively support the brand. It's a comprehensive approach involving research, development, and the application of distinctive features to enable consumers to associate the brand with specific products or services. This identity permeates various aspects, from social media captions to billboard color palettes, and even the materials used for packaging. For instance, the iconic Coca-Cola brand has a globally recognized logo featuring classic red and white lettering, vibrant artwork, and a distinctive font that has captured consumer attention for over a century. Although branding and marketing are often intertwined, they represent distinct disciplines. Branding is a company's identity, while marketing involves the tactics and strategies that communicate and amplify that vision. Importance of Branding A brand stands as one of the most crucial assets for any organization, providing it with identity, memorability, and the power to influence consumer decisions. Beyond product or service offerings, branding fosters a connection between consumers and the company. It plays a pivotal role in influencing purchasing decisions, with studies indicating that a significant percentage of consumers prefer brands associated with a greater mission or purpose. Branding goes beyond mere transactions; it creates a lasting identity for a business, making it memorable and distinguishable across various mediums. The impact of branding extends to advertising and marketing efforts, providing added recognition and impact to promotional activities. Additionally, strong branding contributes to employee pride, creating a reputable and highly-regarded workplace that attracts top talent. As a business evolves, both branding and marketing become increasingly complex, with each area developing strategies to support different organizational goals. Basically, branding is the thread that weaves through the fabric of a company, providing a distinct identity and influencing every facet of its growth and success. Types of Branding Services 1. Logo Design: Logo design is a foundational element of branding services, involving research and iterative design. The objective is to create a visually appealing and versatile logo that represents the core values and identity of the brand. This symbol becomes the recognizable face of the company, fostering brand recall and serving as a visual shorthand for the brand's ethos and offerings. 2. Brand Identity Development: Brand identity development extends beyond visual elements to encompass tone of voice, values, and personality. This service involves developing a cohesive and consistent brand identity, with comprehensive guidelines dictating logo usage, color palettes, typography, and broader design principles. The goal is to create a holistic brand experience that resonates with consumers on an emotional level, fostering a sense of connection and recognition. 3. Marketing Collateral Creation: Marketing collateral creation involves designing and producing materials such as brochures, business cards, and promotional items. Since now, many things are getting digitalized such marketing collaterals are also created digitally with creative content. The emphasis is on aligning these collateral pieces with the brand identity, incorporating storytelling elements to reinforce the brand narrative. This service aims to create tangible, visually striking materials that convey information and leave a lasting impression, contributing to a cohesive brand image. 4. Website and Digital Presence Enhancement: Enhancing a company's website and digital presence is a strategic branding service that involves thorough analysis and design enhancements. It ensures alignment with the brand identity, creating a seamless and immersive online experience. Managing social media platforms is integral to facilitating consistent and engaging communication. This service aims to make the brand's digital footprint an extension of its identity, fostering connections and interactions with the audience. 5. Brand Strategy and Positioning: Brand strategy and positioning form the foundational framework of effective branding services. This service includes comprehensive market research, defining unique value propositions, and positioning the brand distinctively within the market. The goal is to create a strategic roadmap that differentiates the brand and aligns with consumer needs and market trends. Ongoing brand management strategies are crucial for adaptation to evolving market dynamics. 6. Brand Messaging: Making an impactful brand messaging involves creating a cohesive framework to communicate the brand's story. This service includes tailoring messaging to resonate with specific target audience segments and implementing consistent messaging across various communication channels. The objective is to create a narrative that informs and emotionally connects with consumers, reinforcing the brand's values and positioning. 7. Brand Consultation: Brand consultation services provide businesses with expert advice and strategic recommendations for enhancing brand visibility and reputation. This involves in-depth consultations to understand business goals and challenges, offering insights for long-term brand development and adaptation strategies. The service aims to provide tailored guidance, ensuring that branding efforts align with overarching business objectives and market dynamics. Why Is Branding Crucial for Service Companies? For service-oriented businesses, branding is a strategic imperative with multifaceted implications: 1. Credibility Building: Establishing a trustworthy and credible image is crucial for service companies where intangible offerings rely heavily on customer confidence. A well-defined brand creates a sense of reliability, reassuring customers about the quality and professionalism of the services. 2. Differentiation in a Competitive Landscape: Service companies operate in highly competitive markets. Effective branding sets the company apart by highlighting unique selling points and distinct qualities. It helps communicate why a potential customer should choose their services over competitors, creating a competitive edge. 3. Trust and Loyalty: Fostering trust and loyalty through effective branding is paramount for service companies. Trust is a foundational element in service transactions, and a strong brand that consistently delivers on promises builds lasting relationships with customers, encouraging repeat business and positive word-of-mouth. 4. Lasting Identity: It is important for any company to have a lasting identity beyond products or services. Branding provides a framework for consumers to relate to and connect with on a deeper level. It goes beyond the transactional aspect, establishing an emotional connection that resonates even after the service is rendered. 5. Marketing Support: Branding supports marketing and advertising efforts by providing a strong foundation. A well-established brand amplifies promotional activities, making marketing efforts more impactful and memorable. It ensures that marketing messages align with the overall brand narrative, creating a cohesive and compelling story. 6. Employee Pride: Building pride among employees is an often-overlooked benefit of branding. A strong brand creates a sense of identity and purpose for employees, fostering a positive workplace culture. This, in turn, attracts top talent and contributes to a motivated and engaged workforce. Factors Influencing Branding Service Charges Branding services are a crucial investment for businesses looking to establish a strong and memorable identity. However, the cost of these services can vary widely based on several factors. Understanding the key influencers of branding service charges is essential for businesses seeking to make informed decisions about their branding strategies. Here are the significant factors that play a role in determining branding service charges: 1. Scope of Services: The breadth and depth of the branding services required significantly impact the overall cost. A comprehensive branding package, including logo design, brand identity development, and marketing collateral creation, will generally incur higher charges than a more limited set of services. 2. Complexity of the Project: The complexity of the branding project is a critical determinant. If the brand requires intricate design elements, extensive market research, or the development of a multifaceted brand strategy, the complexity of the project can lead to higher service charges. 3. Industry and Market Factors: The industry in which a business operates can influence branding service charges. Highly specialized industries may require more research and customization, impacting the overall cost. Additionally, market dynamics, competition, and target audience intricacies can contribute to variations in pricing. 4. Reputation and Expertise of the Agency: The reputation and expertise of the branding agency or professionals hired for the project play a significant role in determining charges. Agencies with a proven track record and industry recognition may command higher fees due to their experience and perceived value. 5. Timeline and Urgency: The urgency of the branding project can influence costs. Tight timelines and accelerated project schedules may require additional resources and effort, potentially leading to higher charges. 6. Customization and Uniqueness: Brands seeking highly customized and unique solutions may incur higher charges. Tailoring branding elements to specific business needs and ensuring distinctiveness often requires more time and expertise, contributing to increased service fees. 7. Geographic Location: The geographic location of the branding agency or professionals can impact service charges. Agencies based in regions with higher living and operational costs may charge more compared to those in lower-cost areas. 8. Size and Scale of the Business: The size and scale of the business seeking branding services also play a role. Larger enterprises with expansive branding needs, multiple touchpoints, and a broader target audience may face higher charges due to the scale and complexity of the project. 9. Client Involvement and Collaboration: The level of client involvement and collaboration can affect costs. Projects requiring extensive collaboration, feedback, and revisions may take more time and resources, influencing the final charges. 10. Additional Services and Deliverables: The inclusion of additional services and deliverables, such as ongoing brand management, monitoring, or additional marketing support, can contribute to increased service charges. Businesses should clarify the scope of services to understand the full cost implications. 11. Market Demand and Trends: The overall demand for branding services in the market and current industry trends can influence charges. High demand for specialized branding expertise or alignment with current design trends may impact pricing. Branding Strategies That Would Work For Services Businesses Service companies need to work on strengthening their professional services brand, which involves deploying a mix of effective marketing strategies. Here are five key approaches, each encompassing various techniques. Content Marketing Content marketing revolves around consistently offering valuable information to potential clients or influencers. This strategy builds relevance, reputation, and visibility by prioritising education over promotion. Over time, potential clients gain insights into how your firm tackles challenges, fostering trust.  When they require assistance, your firm naturally tops their list. Content marketing isn't about selling but about winning clients through shared value. It serves as an excellent strategy not only for lead generation but also for brand building. Showcase Your Experts While many firms have experts, few become well-known and influential within their target client group. By intentionally cultivating one or more of these high-profile experts, a firm can significantly amplify the strength of its brand. Through the brand value of such experts, companies can leverage them for better branding. Some of these experts become the face of the company and help it gain more attention in the market. Collaborate and Partner with Big Names Collaborating with distinguished organizations on significant projects is a proven strategy for enhancing your professional services brand. Ideal partners include large, well-known businesses, trade associations, or universities. Genuine partnerships involve more than mere event sponsorships. While sponsorships are commonly seen as brand-building strategies, they can be costlier and less effective than engaging in a project partnership. Consider jointly conducting a research project or initiating a special educational program. An innovative, high-profile project stands out more than your logo on a crowded sponsorship banner and proves to be a more potent brand-building strategy. Seek High-Profile Clients and Case Stories Many successful professional services firms have established their reputations on the back of a single name-brand client or a well-known case study. However, such success can diminish over time. A strategic brand-building approach involves actively pursuing high-profile clients and creating impactful case stories that can be widely shared. While everyone desires prestigious clients and exceptional results, few firms take the necessary steps to realise that desire. Deliberately seeking high-profile clients and investing in producing noteworthy results can be a powerful brand-building strategy. Dominate The Social Media Space A highly leveraged brand-building strategy for professional services firms today is centred around the increasing use of social media tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube for business purposes. Dominating the social media space requires more than occasional participation. Many firms and individuals engage sporadically. Here, the emphasis is on investing resources to establish a dominant presence. The strategic opportunity lies in the adoption of social media by professional services firms, which is still in its early stages. Even today, becoming a major online voice within target client groups is possible. Through this method, many small firms and solo professionals have successfully built strong online brands. While traditional face-to-face networking remains important, consider the time and cost savings associated with a social media brand-building strategy. The strongest brands are omnipresent, and a strong social media presence is an effective strategy to achieve that omnipresence. Conclusion Now that we are wrapping up, after providing you with enough information about why you need to invest in professional branding services, you can make an informed decision for the same. We have talked about tricks like sharing helpful stuff, making your experts known, teaming up with cool partners, landing some fancy clients, and being a social media champ. If you want to get the best branding services, then Saffron Edge is the place for you. They have got it covered, from making your brand look awesome to getting the word out smartly. So, here’s the deal: Your brand is more than just a logo. It's like your business's personality, and when done right, it helps you stand out. Think of it as your way of saying, "Hey, we're awesome at what we do!" As you step into the world of branding, keep these tips in mind, and if you are on the lookout for a branding buddy, hit up Saffron Edge. We know what to do. We help in branding for services businesses to reach out to a wider audience.   Remember, in the busy world of professional services, your brand isn't just a sign – it's your word and a sign of how serious you are about doing great things. So, invest smart, stay true to yourself, and watch your brand become the secret sauce to your business success. So, why wait? Contact Saffron Edge today for expert branding services. ...

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