Friday 29 April 2022

8 Brilliant Content Marketing Examples to Take Your Company Out of the Unknown

If you want to grow your brand, you need a content marketing plan. Why?

Seventy-eight percent of companies that produce effective content have a documented marketing strategy.

That said, there’s no use in creating content if it won’t help you achieve your marketing goals. Instead, you need to know how to recognize great content.

To help ensure your brand doesn’t fade into the background, let me walk you through eight great content marketing examples you can learn from.

What Is Content Marketing?

Content marketing is content created and shared for a specific commercial purpose, such as gaining website traffic, increasing brand awareness, or influencing people to buy your products.

A recent survey taken by professional content marketers found the following:

  • 88 percent of content marketers say content marketing is effective for branding.
  • 88 percent of marketers say content marketing is effective at building brand trust.
  • 80 percent said content marketing works to educate audiences.
  • 72 percent said content marketing is effective for lead generation.

The survey respondents said other effective uses of content marketing are driving audiences to events, building loyalty with existing customers, supporting the launch of a new product, and building subscriber lists.

“Content” has a wide definition, including podcasts, eBooks, infographics, and blog articles. Essentially, if it’s a form of media designed to acquire and influence an audience.

How do you know what makes “great” content? One of the best ways to learn content marketing is by looking at real content marketing strategy examples.

My step-by-step guide breaks down content marketing in detail.

8 Content Marketing Examples

While these content marketing examples are all unique, they have something in common: a clear purpose.

Bear that in mind as you read through these examples and you’ll better appreciate how to create successful content.

Without further ado, here’s a look at some amazing content marketing strategy examples.

1. MoonPie: Brand Voice

Content marketing is all about standing out from the crowd. One way to do this is by developing a memorable brand voice.

Why does voice matter?

According to Sprout Social’s research, 33 percent of customers say a distinct personality helps a company stand out on social media, and 46 percent appreciate brands who engage their audiences, so developing your voice is worth a shot.

MoonPie’s Twitter feed is a great example of a content marketing strategy. Not only does every Tweet have a clear purpose, but the brand uses a consistently fun tone to encourage engagement:

Content Marketing Examples - MoonPie

Here’s another example. Rather than just posting a product link, the social media manager appeals to followers with a quirky tone:

Content Marketing Examples - MoonPie on Twitter

What’s the lesson here? Refine your brand voice. Here’s how.

  • Revisit your company’s mission. Your voice should align with your company’s values, so make sure you’re clear on what your business stands for.
  • Research your target demographic. What is your audience looking for? What do they care about? Use your answers to refine your voice.
  • Take a look at your most successful content. Figure out what works and replicate this. For example, if your most successful content focuses on, say, your company’s eco-friendliness, create more content emphasizing this value.

2. Gymshark: Video Ad Campaign

Another way to stand out from your competitors is by making video content: 81 percent of marketers believe videos help them increase sales. Let’s break down a great content marketing example from Gymshark.

Gymshark wanted to promote a key message: fitness unites everyone. To do so, they ran the “United We Sweat” campaign, promoting inclusivity, diversity, and overcoming obstacles. They also designed promotional images to accompany the campaign:

Content Marketing Examples - Gymshark

The content works because it showcases the brand’s core message: uniting people through fitness. The slogan “United We Sweat” is simple and memorable, too, which helps.

How do you learn from this example? First, think about what makes your brand special. Revisit your mission statement and target market if you need a refresher.

Then, consider your campaign goals. Gymshark wanted to move away from its association with super-fit athletes and instead show why it’s a universal fitness brand. Placing “united” and “sweat” together makes sense.

Finally, keep it simple. When it comes to slogans and taglines, less is usually more.

Need some more inspiration? I walk you through how to write business slogans elsewhere.

3. Nadaré Co: Viral Content

Viral content instantly boosts your visibility, spreads your brand message, and generates more traffic, so it’s a worthwhile goal.

Let me use content marketing examples from Nadaré Co, a jewelry company, as an example of a successful content marketing strategy in action.

Nadaré Co’s founder began posting TikTok marketing content to promote the brand’s unique waterproof jewelry. She now has over 91,000 followers, over 1.3 million TikTok “likes,” and videos watched by thousands of people daily!

The secret to achieving this example of a content marketing strategy?

Post useful, highly targeted videos designed to entertain viewers, answer questions, and solve problems. For example, here’s a video on how to find your ring size, so customers know exactly which ring size will fit them before they order:

There’s also a video advertising the jewelry’s waterproof features and worldwide shipping:

Content Marketing Examples - Nadare Co Advertises on TikTok

Here’s what we can take away from this content marketing strategy example.

  • Keep your videos short and engaging.
  • Highlight what makes your brand special in every video.
  • Use relevant hashtags to improve your content’s visibility and reach.

4. Ridester: Long-form Content

To educate your audience, you need long-form posts in your content marketing strategy.

Research shows that in-depth posts typically outrank shorter, less comprehensive blogs, and the average first-page search result on Google has over 1,400 words.

In other words, long-form content is worth your time and Ridester has some great content marketing examples.

After losing a significant amount of traffic, Ridester prioritized writing long-form content to answer the questions readers care about.

In one blog post, for example, Ridester sets out actionable steps for making more money as an Uber Eats driver. There’s no fluff; it’s comprehensive but concise:

Content Marketing Examples - Ridester

After revamping its long-form content, Ridester saw a 487 percent organic traffic increase and improved its search rankings for 16 search phrases. Cool, right? Here’s how you can emulate this success.

  • First, use search tools like Quora and Reddit to discover what matters to your audience and what questions they’re asking.
  • Next, try out Ubersuggest to find the right keywords to target in your content.
  • Do some competitor research. Where are the content gaps? What questions have they failed to answer? Use the answers to these questions to complete your research.

5. Cricut: Influencer Marketing

Depending on your audience, influencer marketing is a highly effective strategy. Cricut, a DIY crafts supplier, illustrates why.

Cricut teamed up with “New Girl” actress Zooey Deschanel to promote its products. Deschanel, a real-life crafts enthusiast, brings authenticity and fun to Cricut’s content:

Content Marketing Examples - Circut

As we saw with Nadaré Co, videos are a great way to bring your product to life and build audience trust in your brand. Now, here are some tips for using influencers effectively in any content marketing strategy.

  • Define what you need help with and determine how an influencer can help you achieve it.
  • Make sure your influencer aligns with your brand. For example, Deschanel works great for Cricut because she’s a real-life crafts enthusiast.
  • To maximize engagement, choose campaign-specific hashtags for the influencer to use to promote your products.

You can find influencers through social media keyword searches and influencer marketplaces.

6. Storiarts: User-generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) is proof your products work. You’re not paying a marketing team to write ads or promote an item. Instead, you’re letting your products speak for themselves through satisfied customers. That’s why consumers are 2.4 times more likely to say UGC is more authentic than branded content.

Storiarts does this well. Storiarts turned to Instagram with two goals in mind:

  1. Driving sales of its literary-themed products.
  2. Highlighting the brand’s commitment to ending illiteracy.

Users can post pictures of themselves enjoying Storiarts products on a dedicated hashtag, #committolit:

Content Marketing Examples - Storiarts

How did this campaign work out for Storiarts?

They’ve grown from an obscure Etsy store, into a recognizable brand with over 82,000 followers and counting.

Want to best take advantage of UGC? Here’s how.

  • Create a dedicated hashtag on social media. Keep it short and memorable.
  • Engage with customers who post on the hashtag to encourage participation.
  • Choose a campaign that promotes your brand’s mission to boost your company’s profile.

Got a goal like ending illiteracy? Tell the world about it!

7. Fire & Ice: Product Videos

Want to showcase what’s so great about your products? Successful content marketing examples often come down to high-quality product videos.

When you create videos as a content marketing strategy, you aren’t alone. In fact, 69 percent of marketers increased their video budget for 2022 per the results of a recent Content Marketing Institute survey.

Videos show your products in action and, ideally, they should answer questions your target audience might have about your services.

Fire & Ice made a video explaining how their air conditioner repair service works.

In just a few minutes, the video sets out what customers can expect from their service and how much it costs. Most importantly, it includes a clear CTA (how customers can book an appointment.)

Content Marketing Examples - Fire and Ice

Here are some actionable takeaways from this example of a content marketing strategy:

  • Do some market research to learn what your customers want.
  • Consider repurposing existing content into video form.
  • Break your videos into sections so viewers can jump to the most relevant part for their query.
  • Always end with a clear CTA and include your contact details somewhere obvious.

8. Vienna Beef: Web Content

For our last content marketing strategy example, we’re talking about first impressions.

Why? Because first impressions matter.

In fact, 94 percent of consumers decide whether to browse a website based on its look and feel. In other words, when prospects land on your website, you want to set the right impression.

Vienna Beef, a Chicago-style hot dog manufacturer, knows this. After partnering with a digital marketing agency for a website redesign, they:

  • tripled their website traffic
  • reduced shopping cart abandonments
  • increased sales

Here’s the homepage. It’s optimized for sales without being pushy. It’s also vibrant and engaging, with clear links to product pages:

Content Marketing Examples - Vienna Beef

Scroll down and you’ll find links to hot dog stands and local stockists:

Content Marketing Examples - Vienna Beef Store Locator

It’s easy to overlook website design when you think of content marketing, but actually, web copy and design are among your most important content.

My suggestion? Set clear goals. Vienna Beef knew exactly what they wanted from their redesign which is how they achieved it so successfully.

Then, hire a website designer. Effective website design is an art, and if you’re serious about content marketing and conversion, it’s worth the investment.

Finally, run some A/B testing to check which design elements work best. You might find my A/B testing guide helpful.

Content Marketing Examples: Frequently Asked Questions

What is content marketing?

Content marketing involves creating useful and engaging content across all mediums to organically grow your business, boost your visibility, and increase sales.

How can you recognize a good example of content marketing?

Whether it’s an informative blog post or an eye-catching graphic, all good content serves a purpose. It tells a story and reinforces a company’s brand identity. Great content marketing allows a brand to connect with its audience, so look for authenticity, professionalism, and strong messaging with a clear CTA or desired result.

How can you recognize an example of poor content marketing?

Again, it’s fairly easy to spot. Simply look for muddled messaging, unnatural or “keyword stuffed” writing, and content that lacks any clear CTA or purpose. Poorly-timed marketing campaigns which are insensitive to current news always fall short, too.

How can I best learn from examples of content marketing strategies I come across?

Be intuitive. Explore what you think works (or doesn’t work) and why. If you’re impressed by a content marketing example, consider how you can apply the principles such as engaging visual elements and strong brand messaging to your marketing efforts.

Conclusion: Content Marketing Examples


If you’re serious about growing your business and getting some brand exposure, then you need a content marketing strategy.

Research successful examples, take what works, and identify how you can implement those techniques in your content.

Don’t forget to track your key metrics, too, so you can see what’s working…and fix what’s not.

Struggling to produce the right content for your goals? Check out my consulting services and discover how I can steer you in the right direction.

Have you found any other great content marketing examples? What did you learn from them?



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There's no need to freak out over Elon Musk buying Twitter. He's all hype.

Elon Musk on Twitter

Just because Elon says it doesn't mean it's true.

Elon Musk is the "genius" co-founder of Tesla, according to his bio on the company website. Except he isn't a founder at all, joining well after Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning created Tesla in 2003. Musk's fans may admire him for building SpaceX, a space exploration company, however, that company's success was made possible through billions in government funding — subsidies Musk later said shouldn't exist (for others, of course).

Musk boasted about sending ventilators to hospitals during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020, but he didn't. In Oct. 2021, Musk told the U.N.'s World Food Programme that if they provided him with a plan of action, he'd donate $6 billion to make it happen. When the director of the program stepped up with more information, Musk went silent on the issue. To date, he never donated.

I could go on as there are plenty of examples like this, but my point is: Elon Musk is nothing but a hype man. There's no need to worry about his takeover of Twitter. At least, not yet.

Here's why.

The art of the deal

You might think Elon Musk is now running Twitter after hearing the news that Twitter had accepted the billionaire's offer to buy the company. The jubilant reactions from Musk fanboys and conservatives who buy his "free speech" credo might lead you to believe this, too. The truth is that the deal has not been finalized. Musk doesn't own Twitter yet. In fact, it'll probably be months before the deal is done.

Hell, the deal might not even go through. I'm not prognosticating and claiming it won't. I'm saying it's a simple fact that the possibility exists that Musk will not end up owning Twitter. It could happen. Some have even laid out exactly how it could possibly go down.

Musk's offer for Twitter was $44 billion but where will those funds come from? He doesn't have that much in liquid assets. Some of that buyout price will come from the Tesla stock he will sell off. Another chunk will be provided by bank financing. But that won't cover it all. Does he have investors already lined up? Even if he does, people can pull out. Things can change.

The platforms

Let's say everything does go according to plan and Musk ends up owning Twitter. Let's also go along with his commitment to change Twitter policy in the name of "free speech." His fans believe this will mean a return to a more unregulated social media forum; one where previously moderated accounts and offensive content, much of which would be categorized as hate speech and attacks on marginalized groups, would be allowed on the platform. Also, previously banned users would be allowed to rejoin.

Even if all this happens, Musk's Twitter will still be beholden to other big tech companies, such as Apple and Google, that it depends on to distribute its services. For an example of how this could play out, look no further than what happened last year to the conservative social media platform, Parler.

Apple and Google have an absolute stranglehold on the mobile market. If you want your service to be successful, it's necessary that its mobile app is distributed via the App Store (and to a lesser extent, the Google Play store). Parler, after failing to moderate its platform, ended up violating both company's policies and, as a result, the social media app was removed from both app stores. Even Amazon ended up giving Parler the boot from its Amazon Web Services hosting platform.

In order to get back on to the App Store, Parler had to abide by Apple's terms and reconfigure its own platform's policies for Apple's approval.

Now, I'm not saying these other companies will "save" you from Musk's Twitter. That's ridiculous. But it's a fact that Twitter will need to rely on third-party platforms and if Musk wants his Twitter to be successful, he'll have to play ball with their rules, too.

It's business

In the end, Twitter is a business. The purpose of all the hype Elon Musk generates is to make him more money. Musk has money on the line here — he has bank financing to think about. Being that he'll likely need to bring in outside investors to help him foot the bill, they'll want a return on their investment. Tesla stock has already taken a hit since Musk announced his Twitter takeover bid over concerns he'll be splitting his time even further between his companies.

We've seen billionaires who are new to the social media business crash and burn when entering the space before. When Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. bought MySpace in 2005, effectively beginning its demise, the ruination of the platform wasn't because of ideological reasons or terrible users joining the platform. MySpace died because News Corp. did not understand the social media space and business went bad as a result. Based on Musk's lackluster takes on content moderation and engagement, he doesn't seem to get the industry either.

If Twitter under Musk changes its policies so dramatically that it further fills with bad actors, white supremacists, hate speech, and other noxious content, the company will likely lose business. Brands would likely deactivate their accounts and take their advertising dollars elsewhere. Not only would left-leaning users leave the platform, but even apolitical users might flee, too. Twitter would lose money.

There is no denying Twitter is important. People have built careers thanks to networking on the platform. Activists have used it as a tool to organize and spread the word on truly important social justice issues. News outlets have found sources for important stories on the social network. There is truly concern for what can happen to Twitter under Musk, especially based on his recent incendiary tweets. 

But Elon Musk has way more to lose here than Twitter's users do. And any users that do leave Twitter now based on what Musk says are giving him way too much credit. Remember, he's all hype! He's basking in the attention he's receiving for, frankly, being an asshole.

If Musk's worst tendencies don't prevail and Twitter basically remains at least the same as it is now, then its users will be just fine. And, if Musk tanks the Twitter business and the social media site fails, Twitter's users will be just fine, too. On the flip side, Musk will have lost billions, possibly even bringing his other companies, like Tesla, down with it. Most importantly, his ego will have taken a hit. Can you imagine his reaction to a very public failure?

And, come on, admit it... that would be really funny to watch.



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Thursday 28 April 2022

How to Use Meta Business Suite (Formerly Facebook Business Suite)

How to Use Meta Business Suite (Formerly Facebook Business Suite)

Businesses spend nearly 115 billion total on advertising across the Meta (formerly Facebook) platforms. Why? It works! And not only that; Meta has great tools that allow you to easily manage and track your business accounts.

Are you struggling to keep up with your Instagram and Facebook marketing?

DMs and comments falling through the cracks?

Do the multiple tabs for all your accounts and features like the Ad Manager drive you nuts?

Then you’re going to fall head over heels with Meta Business Suite, called Facebook Business Suite before Facebook changed its name to Meta.

It’s the platform’s newest creation, designed to iron out the time-sucking road bumps in social media management and make it easier for businesses to manage their Instagram and Facebook profiles.

Below, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about Meta Business Suite. We’ll unpack what it is, everything you can do with the tool, how it can benefit your business and a quick walkthrough on how to set up your account.

What Is Facebook Business Suite (now Meta Business Suite) and How Does It Work?

Meta Business Suite streamlines your Facebook and Instagram accounts into one easy-to-use dashboard.

Through the platform, you can manage all accounts you own or administrate with various tools to make controlling your business’s social media presence much easier.

The best part? It’s free and available on mobile and desktop.

All you need to do is link up your accounts, and you’ll instantly have access to an overview dashboard of your Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts.

You’ll be able to:

  • create a to-do list of notifications to manage
  • check insights on your performance and audience growth
  • create or see recent posts or stories
  • create or manage recent ads
  • see content calendar
  • view content inspiration
  • communicate with an inbox for Facebook and Instagram DMs and comments
  • access the Commerce Manager
  • check Business Suite updates

That’s only the tip of the iceberg.

There’s an entire “more tools” section with 12 other features to play around with, including:

  • appointments
  • ad manager
  • events manager
  • instant forms
  • media library

Facebook (Meta) Business Suite vs. Facebook Business Manager

Before Facebook became Meta, they offered both Facebook Business Suite and Facebook Business Manager. Both options are still offered under Meta.

The Business Manager is a backend tool used to share or limit access to your business accounts by assigning one of six different “roles” to those with access to your accounts.

The Business Suite offers front-end management, like merging notifications, scheduling posts, and managing your inbox.

Facebook (Meta) Business Suite allows you to combine and streamline your activity across the Meta social media and messenger platforms.

Leveraging Meta Business Suite Insights

Meta Business Suite makes it easy to track your business accounts and campaigns across the Meta social and messenger platforms.

Here are some of the insights Meta Business Suite provides and how you can use them:

  • Ad spend: You can track your ad spend across all Meta platforms. Based on how well you’re performing, you can adjust your spend accordingly. For example, if you’re spending a lot on Instagram ads but see via other insights that the ads aren’t performing well, you can redirect your budget towards the Meta platforms you’re more successful on.
  • Engagement: Meta (Facebook) Business Suite allows you to see engagement with your organic and boosted content. You can see what content performs best and use that to inform your future strategies and the content you publish on social.
  • Audience demographics: With Business Suite, you can see data about the users who interact with your profile and content. For example, you can see where they’re from, their other interests, their age, and more. You can use this information to continue creating content that targets your existing users, or adjust your strategies if your content isn’t reaching the right audience.

Using the Meta Business Suite App

The Meta (Facebook) Business Suite mobile app allows you to manage your business accounts from your mobile device.

Everything you can do on desktop, you can also do on mobile. You can monitor your account activity, manage your inbox, and even get audience insights.

How to Use Meta Business Suite

Before you can start streamlining your social media management with Facebook (now Meta) Business Suite, you’ll need to follow a simple setup process.

Step 1: Create a Facebook Business Account

Go to https://business.facebook.com/ and select “Create a Facebook Business Account.” Enter your business account name and select “Next” when you’re done.

Create a Facebook Business Account in Facebook Business Suite

Step 2: Fill in Your Contact Information

Enter your full name and business email address. This information won’t be shared with your followers. Facebook will only use it to contact you.

Contact information form in Facebook Business Suit

Step 3: Select Your Facebook and Instagram Accounts

The Facebook and Instagram accounts you own are available for you to claim. If you’re managing an account someone else owns, you won’t be able to select it.

In order to select an Instagram account, it needs to be converted to a business or creator account. If you try to select a personal account, Facebook will ask you to switch before continuing the setup process.

Select your facebook and Instagram accounts in Facebook Business Suite

Step 4: Add People to Your Business Account

Here, you can select your page admins. Enter their email address and assign each contact as an employee (limited access) or business admin (full access).

If you’re running your accounts solo, you can skip this step.

In Facebook Business Suite, add people to you business account

Step 5: Review Your Business Account

When you’re happy with your selection and who has access to your Business Suite, click on “Confirm.” Facebook will then take you to your dashboard overview, and you can start using all the tools inside the platform.

In Facebook Business Suit, review your business account

Tools to Use in Meta Business Suite

Curious about the tools inside Facebook Business Suite? Let’s take a deep dive and look at what you can do with the platform and how it can benefit your business.

Monitor Your Inbox

Are comments one of your biggest time suckers? Do you constantly find yourself hopping between apps on your phone or getting inundated with notifications on your desktop?

With the inbox tool in Business Suite, you can see all your Instagram and Facebook comments in one place.

Pop the kettle on, make some coffee, block out 30-minutes in your calendar and respond to everything at once.

  • What about direct messages (DMs)? You’ll find that here too.
  • Got the Facebook chat plugin on your website? You can manage all your messages here as well.
  • Sick of replying to the same question every single day? Business Suite lets you create automated replies for your frequently asked questions.

How’s that for efficiency?

Explore Insights

There are tons of free and paid tools that show you Facebook and Instagram analytics, but few compare the platform’s built-in option.

With Business Suite, you can see your latest statistics for all your accounts.

Gone are the days of toggling between the different apps or going in and out of individual posts.

On the Insights dashboard, you can see an overview of how your content is performing over a specific time period, and sort your posts by:

  • reach
  • likes and reactions
  • comments
  • shares
  • results
  • cost per result
  • link clicks
  • recent content

One of the most interesting features of Insights is the Audience section. It breaks down your current audience for both platforms, and you can see at a glance:

  • age and gender
  • towns and cities
  • top countries

There’s also a potential audience tab. It details your estimated audience size if you run an ad, as well as the top pages liked by your potential audience.

Facebook Business Suite estimated audience size

Not liking what you’re seeing? You can create a custom audience by clicking on the “filter” button and refining the results based on:

  • location
  • age
  • gender
  • interests
  • language
Facebook Business Suite custom audience

Create Posts and Stories

Are you using post-creation apps like Later or Planoly? Business Suite sets itself up as a rival by giving you the ability to create your posts and stories in one place and schedule each one out.

That’s not all.

If you go to the Planner section on your dashboard, you’ll see a calendar view of your past and upcoming posts.

Facebook Business Suite planner section on your dashboard

Facebook also recommends a timeslot of when your audience is most online. Click on it, and you can start creating a new post or story.

Facebook Business Suite recommended time slot for publishing

One of my favorite features in the “New Post” box is the hashtag tool. It shows you which hashtags are trending, the number of posts using a tag, and lets you save your favorites for later.

Facebook Business Suite hashtag tool

Plus, it shows you hashtag results for each platform and gives you recommendations based on what you’ve already selected.

Facebook Business Suite hashtag recommendations based on your previous selections
Facebook Business Suite recommended hastags

While in create mode, you can put together your Instagram and Facebook posts at the same time. Switch between the different tabs, and you can see exactly how your post will look on the two platforms.

Creating Facebook and Instagram posts in Facebook Business Suite

For Stories, it works the same. Upload up to 10 photos or videos at once and schedule each one out when you’re done.

creating stories in Facebook Business Suite

Create Ads

Don’t want to have another tab open for Facebook Ad Manager? You can keep track of your ad performance and create ads from the Business Suite.

It’s another time-saver and allows you to see how you’re tracking towards goals.

On the dashboard, you can see:

  • reach
  • post engagement
  • link clicks
  • page likes

Switch between the different filter views to see your results over the last 90, 60, 30, and 7 days.

Click on the blue “Create Ad” button in the top right-hand corner to create an ad. A pop-up will load and take you through a step-by-step process for setting up a creative that converts.

First, you’ll select your ad goal. You can choose from:

  • automated ads
  • get more leads
  • boost a post
  • boost an Instagram post
  • promote a page
  • get more website visitors
  • get more messages
create an ad on Facebook Business Suite

Next, start designing your ad creative. You’ll see a live preview as you adjust your text and media.

Turn on automatic adjustments if you want Facebook to tweak your ad for each viewer. For example, the platform might adjust the brightness or show the original aspect ratio if it thinks the ad will perform better.

Scroll down to select your audience or create a new one, placements, and set your campaign budget and duration.

When you’re done, click on “Promote Now” for your ad to go into review.

Create Appointments for Your Business

Remember those extra options I spoke about earlier?

One of the most important features of an online business is the appointments scheduler.

If you’re running a service-based business, take advantage of Facebook’s capabilities and empower your audience to book directly through the platform.

When people don’t need to log onto another site to complete the process, you’re removing an extra step and making it that much easier to close a sale.

The result? A boost in your bottom line!

Inside Business Suite, you can manage your appointments, view requests, and adjust the settings to suit your schedule.

Manage appointments with Facebook Business Suite

Generate Leads With Instant Forms

Does your business rely heavily on lead gen? Start using Facebook’s Instant Forms.

What are Instant Forms? Think of it as a mini CRM system. When you create an ad and set your objective to find leads, you can create custom forms users can fill out without leaving the platform.

Again, you’re removing the obstacle of trying to get them to go from one website to another. Thus, improving your chances of someone filling out the form and requesting a callback.

With Business Suite, you can manage your forms and set up the CRM system.

When you create a form, Facebook offers different options depending on your lead generation goal.

For example, you can create a “more volume” form (a quick option) or a “higher intent” (adds an extra step for users to review their information before submitting).

lead forms in facebook business suite

Frequently Asked Questions About Meta Business Suite

What is Meta Business Suite (formerly Facebook Business Suite) used for?

The Meta Business Suite is used for managing your Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts in one dashboard. You can reply to comments, create posts, schedule stories, run ads, and more.

How do you qualify for Meta Business Suite?

You need to have a Facebook page. If you have an Instagram account, you’ll need to convert it to a business account if you want to sync it to your Business Suite.

Is Business Suite on Facebook free?

Yes, Business Suite is free on Facebook to set up and use. All you need is a Facebook account and a Facebook Page to get started on the platform.

Is Facebook Business Suite the same as Meta Business Suite?

Yes, Facebook Business Suite is the same as Meta Business Suite. It was renamed “Meta Business Suite” when Facebook rebranded to Meta.

Conclusion: Meta Business Suite (Formerly Facebook Business Suite)

Meta Business Suite is perfect for creators, personal brands, and businesses to streamline their social media management across Facebook and Instagram.

It gives you everything you need to monitor your growth, stay on top of comments and DMs from your audience, schedule your content, create ads, and so much more.

If you’re only using these two platforms to run your business and you’re using other social media management tools, it’s worthwhile to take a peek inside Business Suite. You might find it’s a more robust tool, and you can nip another business expense from your monthly budget.

What are your thoughts on Meta (Facebook) Business Suite? Are you going to make the switch and use it to manage your Facebook and Instagram accounts?



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11 corporate communications tools to boost team performance

Communications tools are make-or-break for modern companies

Because every missed deadline, bottleneck and minor misunderstanding trickles down to impact your team’s productivity.

But the bigger your company, the faster these issues tend to snowball out of control.

That’s why dedicated business communications tools have become a staple of in-person, remote and hybrid teams alike.

The problem? There’s no shortage of software out there. Couple that with the fact that onboarding your team to new tools is no small feat. This is especially true for enterprises.

If you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered in our comprehensive guide to corporate communications.

What are corporate communications, anyway?

Corporate communications refer to how stakeholders in business interact with colleagues (internal) and customers (external). From updates and expectations to messaging and results, businesses prioritize communications for the sake of organization, productivity and accountability.

And so corporate communications tools represent the software and apps that stakeholders use to manage the interactions above.

These tools can be put into two buckets based on their respective audiences — internal and external.

Internal vs. external corporate communications tools

Internal communications cover interactions that happen among stakeholders within an organization. This includes employees, folks at the C-level and other internal collaborators (think: freelancers or contractors).

To manage these relationships and keep stakeholders up-to-date, companies might use:

  • Project management tools
  • Team chat tools
  • Video conferencing tools
  • Company Intranet or wiki tools

On the flip side, external communications tools are used to deliver key messages to customers, subscribers or partners. These tools might include:

  • Marketing tools (think: social, CRM, email)
  • Customer communication tools (think: live chat or help desk software)
  • PR and media tools

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to adopting comms tools. That said, a combination of internal and external tools is key to keeping everyone involved with your business in the loop.

Why business communications tools matter so much

Investing in dedicated digital communications should be a matter of “when” and not “if” for companies of all shapes and sizes.

Enterprise. SMBs. Solo. You name it.

Consider the well-documented benefits of streamlined communication below:

  • Encourage meaningful collaboration among your team. When teams’ tasks and goals are aligned, they create better business outcomes. There’s a reason why effective communication and higher rates of employee engagement go hand in hand.
  • Empower people to be more productive. Recent research from Teamwork notes that people are up to 25% more productive when they have quick access to deliverables, requirements and other critical project information. With the right business communications tools, you can consolidate all of the above in one place.
  • Create a more connected company culture. Food for thought: only 7% of workers feel that communication is “accurate, open and timely” at work. This signals the need for businesses to really put their corporate communications under the microscope for the sake of not only productivity but their workers’ well-being.

Also, keep in mind that the efficiency of internal communications has a direct impact on how you communicate with customers.

For example, consider how marketing messaging and creatives for campaigns require multiple steps, stakeholders and approvals.

When a department is on the same page and able to communicate effectively, its messages to external stakeholders are more likely to resonate.

11 corporate communications tools to try

Below is our breakdown of the best comms tools, all proven to bring businesses together and help workers communicate better.

Of course, no company necessarily needs everything on this list. That said, the internal and external tools here can highlight areas where your business’ comms might need a tune-up.

Internal communications tools

Building an internal communications strategy is a must-do, especially for remote and distributed teams. Let’s start by looking at tools to help your team internally.

1. Asana

Especially given the rise of remote teams, project management tools are a must-have for companies big and small.

Tools like Asana provide businesses with a unified place to plan and track the progress of any given project. From tasks and to-do lists to full-blown project timelines and department calendars, Asana makes it all easy to track with:

  • Multiple project views (including Kanban boards, lists and calendars) that provide a constant pulse on the progress of a task
  • The ability to assign roles and permissions for collaborators (including entry-level employees, contractors and C-level) to keep workflows structured
  • Automated updates and notifications to keep a constant pulse on task progress
Screenshot of Asana project management

2. Slack

It’s hard to find a team that isn’t using Slack (or a similar team chat tool) to stay connected.

Slack is one of the top corporate communications tools.

With Slack, you can organize your team’s communications into company-wide, department-specific or role-specific channels. This allows for immediate, timely communication that doesn’t totally interrupt workers or cause needless meetings. Arguably the biggest selling point of Slack is its ease of use and endless integrations (including many of the tools on this list).

3. Teamwork

A project management solution that’s almost a hybrid of the two tools above, Teamwork sets itself apart with its ability to track granular project data in addition to updates and messaging. For example, you can track individual contributions to any given task as well as team-wide time spent on tasks.

Teamwork answers “what’s been done, what needs to be done and what’s next” in one place. The platform’s project tracking features represent a massive time-saver and create fewer back-and-forths among collaborators.

Screenshot of the Teamwork workload planner.

4. Confluence

From internal docs and policies to reference pages and wikis, Confluence represents a sort of “home base” for teams to refer to.

The platform serves as a project management tool in its own right but also provides teams with a digital whiteboard to brainstorm and make notes as needed. Confluence’s features are yet another example of how you can consolidate corporate communications rather than jump between multiple apps, inboxes or internal drives.

Screenshot of Confluence internal Wiki and project outline.

5. Bambu by Sprout

Employee advocacy is all the rage right now. Bambu empowers your teammates internally to earn maximum on external marketing messages.

For example, Bambu makes it easy to boost your brand’s biggest announcements and latest blog posts. Rather than craft individual updates or captions, the platform provides templates, inspiration and creative options to boost your social posts messages in the most engaging way possible.

Bambu by Sprout screenshot to promote employee advocacy of company news.

6. Dialpad

Dialpad represents an all-in-one video conferencing, chat and phone solution that’s ideal for distributed teams.

Perhaps the most “corporate” of our corporate communications due to its enterprise clientele, Dialpad boasts a number of features to improve team comms. This includes AI tools such as call sentiment analysis, automated notes to address sales objections and automatic call transcriptions.

Screenshot of the Dialpad team communication tool.

External communications tools

For the second half of our breakdown, we’ll look at external tools you might consider as part of your marketing tech stack.

7. Sprout Social

No surprises here! Sprout Social is a powerful, all-in-one tool for streamlining internal and external comms related to social media.

How so? For starters, we allow teams to consolidate all of their social messages and notifications in one place. Not only does this mean less jumping between platforms, but also empowers teams to respond to more messages faster via collaborative features. The ability to combine your inboxes is a massive time-saver and likewise gives you a more comprehensive view of your customer comms.

Sprout Social screenshot showcasing the all-in-one power of the tool.

Beyond that, Sprout also serves as the home base for all of your external social content.

Updates and announcements. Videos and images. Stories, Reels and everything in-between.

With Sprout, you can schedule and optimize your content across multiple social networks at once. Having all of your social media assets and updates in a single platform allows you to maximize your reach and get your message across to the appropriate audiences faster.

Sprout screenshot showcasing previews of social posts before scheduling.

And we don’t stop there!

Below are a few more ways you might use Sprout as a corporate communications tool:

  • Developing and rolling out your social media crisis plan
  • Listening to crucial social conversations and shout-outs to uncover opportunities to intervene or answer questions for customers
  • Encouraging cross-team collaboration and unified comms among your entire marketing department (including social, design and content marketing)

8. SendinBlue

While trends in marketing come and go, email remains a staple of external comms.

Newsletters. Welcome messages. Winback campaigns. The list goes on.

Platforms like SendinBlue are scalable and make it a cinch to set up automated workflows for any campaign you can think of. The ability to assess engagement metrics and fine-tune your campaigns over time means that you can maximize the eyes on your marketing messages.

 

Screenshot of the SendInBlue email workflow

9. HubSpot

HubSpot’s suite of corporate communications tools includes a robust CRM, email marketing platform and CMS rolled into one.

Having all of the above in one platform gives marketers the opportunity to have a more complete understanding of their customers and their needs.

For example, which content do our leads engage with the most? What’s our most common sales objection? Which of our campaigns results in the most direct revenue?

With HubSpot, you have a holistic view of your marketing channels and likewise what makes your customers tick.

HubSpot's CRM serves as a corporate communications tool both internally and externally.

10. Muck Rack

PR and relationships with bloggers, journalists and media outlets are key for businesses looking to earn some much-needed exposure.

Tools like Muck Rack make the process of finding relevant outreach targets and pitching them faster. Providing instant access to thousands of journalists, the platform allows you to track the progress of your pitching campaigns and automate the process of conducting follow-ups as needed.

Screenshot oof the Muck Rack pitch tracker.

11. Shorthand

Shorthand is a self-proclaimed “scrollytelling” tool that allows users to create digital experiences (such as websites and landing pages) to share with customers. The tool boasts a variety of team collaboration features that makes it easy for writers, designers and other marketers to come together to create the most compelling stories possible.

Below is a snapshot of how the platform works:

How to pick your corporate communications tools

We get it: choosing between tools can be tough.

This is especially true if you’re on the hunt for an enterprise solution.

To wrap things up, let’s review a few key details that’ll help you make a decision faster.

Be mindful of your budget

No-brainer, right? Most SaaS tools require negotiated pricing for larger teams. Regardless, try to pick solutions that are reasonable to scale and don’t involve usage-based pricing.

Screenshot of Slack's pricing tiers as an example of different budgets.

Onboarding should be a breeze

Ideally, you should be able to adopt and roll out corporate communications tools across your team ASAP. Many tools go to great lengths to educate and empower teams when it comes to onboarding. Some will basically hold your hand through the process to make it less daunting.

For example, Asana has a ton of resources, guides and videos to help teams get started.Example of onboarding resources for corporate communication tools.

Don’t second-guess security

Security matters for any piece of software and your business communications tools are no different. Potential breaches or data loss isn’t an option when you’re dealing with sensitive company materials.

For example, many businesses defaulted to Zoom during the pandemic. However, ongoing privacy concerns highlight how choosing a tool prior to shopping around can result in headaches down the road.

Double-check integrations with your current software

As noted earlier, anything you can do to consolidate tools and communications is a plus. Most major comms tools connect with each other to help boost productivity and likewise reduce notification spam.

Below is a snapshot of two of Sprout’s most popular integrations for both internal and external comms.

This screenshot example shows integrations between corporate communication tools.

Make sure your comms tools have a track record

When in doubt, read reviews! Although there’s nothing wrong with test-driving brand news tools, we recommend sticking to a more “proven” platform for comms.

Review sites like G2 can highlight which apps have long-term users and the most satisfied customers. Insights from buyers can likewise break down specific features or concerns that might be relevant to your team.

Screenshot of reviews for various corporate communication tools.

Which corporate communications tools do you use?

If you want your teams to communicate more effectively, start with your tech stack.

Any combination of the tools above is a solid starting point toward building a more connected and aligned business. Doing so not only makes your workers’ lives easier but also empowers your team to send the right message to your customers.

If you haven’t already, make sure to check out or guide to leveling up your corporate communication skills to do exactly that.

The post 11 corporate communications tools to boost team performance appeared first on Sprout Social.



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