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The post Trends: December appeared first on Elements.

Did you know?

1. Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday in the U.S., with approximately 1.3 billion cards sent annually
2. Evergreens are a tradition dating back to ancient Egyptians and Romans, who decorated with them during winter solstice to signify that spring would return
3. 85% of shoppers prefer free shipping, while 15% prefer fast shipping
4. 66% of American shoppers research online, but ultimately shop at brick-and-mortar stores
5. 68% of shoppers pay more attention to emails from companies during the holiday season
6. It takes approximately 6–8 years for Christmas trees to grow to a marketable size
7. Top office party locations: Restaurants and active locations (like bowling or axe throwing)
8. Christmas as a day off is a somewhat recent innovation … As late as 1850, December 25 wasn’t a legal holiday, so stores and businesses were open and children were expected to attend school.
9. The first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree went up in 1931 … It was a 20′ tree set up by construction workers working on-site. The next tree went up two years later, this time a 50′ tree with lights — sparking the annual tradition.

We hope this collection of facts and stats helps get you in the holiday spirit as we all race to the end-of-year finish line and juggle jingle bells with emails, projects, planning and more!

— Amy

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1. Give thanks: Let your clients / customers know how much you’ve valued their business / support over the past [challenging] year. Even if you feel like they’ve already heard it, a simple gesture of gratitude goes a long way. Think about how you can say thanks — a card with a personal note, a thoughtful gift, a holiday party or some way to get your message to them will be well received and appreciated.
2. Recap: Carefully review the success of this year’s marketing efforts to help decide what worked, what didn’t, what needs to change, what you should being doing more of and why — and so on. It’s best to look at all your metrics now and analyze your costs and results to give you a clear direction heading into next year’s planning.
3. Plan: Once you’ve recapped 2021, let’s get set for 2022. Create a marketing plan that includes strategic goals, deliverables and a budget. Look ahead to any industry-related shows or events you’re interested in attending and incorporate them into your marketing plan, including budgeting for materials and travel (if applicable). Also, have a flexible plan for when plans change.
4. Update lists: Ensure contact lists for clients, leads, vendors, etc. are up-to-date so you’re not scrambling to update or find names next year when you’re ready to send out a mailer, or follow-up with a prospect.
5. Take inventory: Check quantities of your most-used marketing materials; does anything need to be restocked, reprinted or updated to reflect recent changes to your business or services?
6. Confirm holiday schedule: Inform your clients / customers of any change to your business’ availability over the holidays. Let people know soon enough to give them a chance to reach out with any last-minute projects or inquiries.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t go it alone — we’re happy to help you get to the finish line so you can relax and enjoy the end of the year holidays right around the bend! Give us a shout at amy@elementsdesign.com or 203-776-1323 to get started.

– Amy

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If you’re like me, the end of daylight saving is always, at first glance, appealing (another hour of sleep? Yes, please!). But, after a day or two of circadian chaos, our bodies (along with every clock in our home) has forfeited any reward gained by that added hour of sleep. The anticipation of a long winter of shorter, darker days and cold nights paired with longer-than-usual to-do lists and time confusion leads me to a lack of focus and energy. This time of year, we all feel as though we are dragging.

This year, I’m taking a more proactive approach to the shifting daylight and I thought I’d share the tips I’m using with all of you. Here is my list of ways I’m easing into the transition while staying productive, focused and energetic as we head towards winter:

• Take it easy: Give yourself time to acclimate and stick to your usual routines, for example, bedtime and waking up.
• Let the sunshine in: Light deprivation can cause you to feel drained of energy or even give you seasonal depression. Expose yourself to what light we do have by getting up early, opening the shades / curtains, and taking short brisk walk outdoors during the day to look-up from your work and appreciate the day. It also will release tension, lift your mood and help you feel better about the sun setting before your workday is through (the hardest adjustment for me!). Also, at bedtime, avoid blue light from looking at digital screens, specifically when trying to fall asleep (guilty!).
• Move it: Regular, moderate exercise is proven to boost your mood, improve your sleep and help you focus throughout the day. Even if you can’t get to the gym, try cleaning. (It’s unclear why cleaning is so effective as an energy boost, but it is!).
• Nap responsibly: While a nap can be tempting, you may wake up groggy, making it hard to get back to your day, or affect your night, stealing away precious hours of sleep. If a nap is a must, Mayo Clinic recommends limiting it to 10–20 minutes no later than 3pm.
• Consider timing: If you’re like most people, tackling your most important work before lunch vs. later in the day is the way to go. Tackling a nagging task or chore first will make you feel more productive instead of weighed-down. Interestingly, research has shown that scheduling group meetings later in the day (say after lunch, when we hit that digestion slump) may be beneficial. Learn more about when to schedule your most important work from Harvard Business Review here.
• Chase the light: If you have the option and don’t already work from home, this lifestyle adjustment could be a real game-changer; avoiding a commute will help you squeeze out every last drop of your day. Or if you can, shift your hours a bit earlier to head home before the sun completely sets (just 30 minutes could make a big difference). Taking a lunch break away from your desk will also help break up your day so you can enjoy some mid-afternoon light. If none of these are an option, consider getting a light therapy box, which can be helpful for people with seasonal adjustment disorder.

A great way to stay productive during the seasonal transition is to start a new project! We can help spruce up your marking for the holidays, get a head start on 2022 marketing goals, update current marketing and more. Give us a shout at amy@elementsdesign.com or 203-776-1323 to get started.

– Amy

The post Surviving Shorter Days appeared first on Elements.

1. Start now: We’ve all been advised to tackle our holiday shopping early this year due to ongoing supply chain issues courtesy of COVID. While some people may take this to heart, others will stick to old habits and shop up until the last minute; spread your promotions / campaigns throughout November and December to help target different types of customers.
2. Keep customers updated: Keep your website and social media up-to-date with your latest holiday promotions / campaigns to stay fresh and put your customers in the holiday spirit. Add a holiday-themed banner with a clear call-to-action (CTA), or update your photography to reflect the season.
3. Thoughtful email: The holidays are the perfect time to reach out to existing customers, and a great time grow your existing mailing list. A simple gesture — such as a holiday e-blast — will help your existing customers feel remembered, but try something a little different for prospective clients: sprinkle in wrapping tips, holiday recipes or gift ideas that your new customers might find useful; it will help you stand apart from the more generic promotional emails they’ll be receiving throughout the season. Always be sure to include a clear CTA so your clients remain active and engaged with your brand.
4. Be social: We know keeping up with social media can be challenging with how busy the season can be, but it’s important not to neglect your online presence during the holidays. In fact, amping-up your social media plan during the holiday season will only help your promotions. The holidays are a season for giving, so why not host a giveaway? When everyone is buying for someone else, it’s nice to get something in return. It’s also beneficial to offer exclusives to your social media followers that customers can’t get anywhere else. Many companies have also had success in attracting consumers to their social media platforms by highlighting their holiday donations or drives. Are you participating in Toys for Tots or giving back to a local food bank? Let your social network know how they can help.

If you’re having trouble getting started, or just don’t want to go it alone, let Elements know how we can help you and your business through the holiday season at amy@elementsdesign.com or 203-776-1323.

– Amy

The post It’s That (Most Wonderful) Time appeared first on Elements.

We recently shared a post about what’s new with Pinterest (check it out here); this podcast from Marketing Mentor features a conversation about what’s new with LinkedIn, specifically “Creator” mode. Give it a listen or read the transcript here.

Do you send emails? Thought so. Check out this thorough checklist before you hit send, courtesy of Seth’s Blog. Learn more

Speaking of emails, iContact‘s list of 10 campaign ideas for holiday emails (and when to send them) is a helpful reminder that it’s time to start thinking about / preparing your marketing for the holiday season. Learn more

Most business will benefit from utilizing CRM (customer relationship management) software to keep prospective, current and past customers / clients organized for all kinds of sales and marketing purposes. PCMag shares their detailed review of the best options for CRM for 2021 here.

Are you looking to grow your audience on Pinterest? Check out these 5 tips, directly from the platform itself. If you need a hand, we can help you get started! Learn more

Fall is fantastic — especially for us here in Connecticut. If you’re a CT local or interested in heading our way for a weekend trip, check out this list for five great hiking trails in CT for fall foliage. Read the list, then lace up your hiking boots and get outside this weekend while the season is at its finest! Learn more

As always, we’re available if you have any questions, wish to learn more or need our help! Contact us anytime at amy@elementsdesign.com or 203-776-1323.

— Amy

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“The past year has accelerated a rapid worldwide shift to e-commerce but it has left something valuable behind: inspiration. Based on our research, 89% of weekly Pinners use Pinterest for inspiration in their path to purchase. That’s because Pinterest includes inspiration at every part of the shopping journey, not just for Pinners, but for advertisers, merchants and creators too.”

Pinterest saw massive growth during the pandemic, and while its growth has slowed a bit this year, Pinterest is planning to expand it’s shopping trend with a range of new brand showcase features and eCommerce offerings that’s sure to wow many of our clients — especially our retail friends!

Pinterest has been hard at work developing upgrades to their popular app that will give companies more ways to connect and increase sales. Here are few of the changes we’ve heard about:

1. A new ‘Slideshow for Collections’ promotion option features a slideshow that will appear in-stream in relevant searches to help identify viewers who have previously showed interest in similar products. It will allow you to uploaded your catalog, which will automatically generate ads. Cool, huh?

When a viewer taps your image, it expands into a detailed collection of your products that again, is automatically generated based on your inventory — which in turn, will aid in reaching your prospects at just the right time.

2. Next up, Pinterest is adding a new “merchant details” to your brand’s profile which enables businesses to showcase their values in the app. Pinterest describes “merchant details” like this:

“[Merchants can] display brand values like “responsibly sourced,” “invested in good” and “inclusive” on your profile. You can also highlight communities you belong to, such as “Black-owned,” “Latinx-owned,” “Woman-owned,” “LGBTQ+ owned,” “Disability-owned” and more.”

It’s another way to connect your brand to your audience and align with their values.

3. They created an expansion of its Verified Merchant Program. This program highlights those businesses that meet Pinterest’s customer service and brand connection guidelines with a verified blue check mark in the app.

The Verified Merchant program also ensures that an increasing number of businesses are linking their products to the app and adhere to Pinterest’s customer response standards. This helps build trust between buyers and sellers.

It could be worth your time to explore these changes; learn more about Pinterest’s Verified Merchant program here.

4. There’s even more! Another exciting update that’s being tested is Idea Pins, which are sponsored pins displayed with a profile image of the creator along with a “Paid Partnership” tag for transparency regarding the brand relationship. Here is how Pinterest explains how Idea Pins will work:

“Building on our immersive Idea Pin format, we’re testing Idea Ads with paid partnership. This new format is a joint partnership between creators and advertisers. The creator makes an Idea Pin, and tags a brand partner. From there, the advertiser can promote the Idea Pin as an Idea Ad.”

Idea Pin was inspired by the latest social media trends, including video creation tools, advanced sharing options, such as sharing an Idea Pin to Facebook and Instagram stories, for example.

This new feature will allow Pinterest to connect and attract a wider audience who are looking to shop via stories for products and inspiration – and allow sponsored pin creators to get paid for their efforts. A great incentive to keep the content and quality high and the creative ideas coming!

As the holidays are rapidly approaching, this would be a good time to consider how you use your company Pinterest account. Maybe it’s time to try one of the above programs to get more out of Pinterest?

It’s a statistical fact that more people shop in the Pinterest app than any other platform – and more frequently. Also, active users have shown they are 7x more likely to say the app influenced their purchasing decision than any other platform too. So, why not try it?

While Pinterest isn’t right for all service-based businesses, it may be right for some – and for retail, it’s fantastic (and very under utilized) — so please let us know if you need more information or have any questions on Pinterest or any of your social media marketing needs. As always, we’re here to help at amy@elementsdesign.com or 203-776-1323.

– Amy

The post What’s New With Pinterest appeared first on Elements.