Top 5 Must-Reads: Weekly Round-Up 11.20.2015

We find it, so you don’t have to.

From free business tools and the importance of live brand experiences, to everything you need to start your holiday marketing strategy (now!),  here is a quick round-up of the best marketing, advertising and local business related content you may have missed this week:

 

1.14 Free Tools That’ll Make it Easier to Run Your Business (HubSpot Marketing Blog)

In the world of a local business owner, the words “free” and “easy” are pretty attention grabbing on their own. However, when these words are pertaining to tools that help you run said business, it’s even better. From scheduling emails to leveraging website heat mapping technology, this list provides 14 free tools you can start using now. 

 

2. Connected TVs Marry New and Old Viewing Habits (eMarketer)

In the multiscreen world of highly connected consumers, it’s important (especially to advertisers) that Television remains relevant. With connected TVs, this is possible, and this data shows that this technology is giving the “first screen” new life. This article explores recent studies and audience viewing habits. Learn more here. 

 

3. Live Experiences Reinvent the Way Customers Interact with Brands (Content Marketing Institute)

Did you know that attending a branded live experience drives 65% to recommend the brand and 59% to buy? Large brands have the manpower to execute large, branded events – but smaller, local businesses can take a page out of the profitable live experience book, too. This post explains how valuable these experiences can be for both sales and overall consumer-brand relationships. 

 

4. How Images Make Content More Shareable on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (HubSpot Marketing Blog)

We’ve said before that images should be key components in your social media posts, making your content more engaging and shareable. Because, as it says in this post, people are naturally more attracted to images than they are to text. This infographic breaks down the specifics of social visuals; see more here. 

 

5.  It’s Not Too Late: Cox Media’s Last Minute Guide to Holiday Marketing  (Cox Media Blog)

It’s go-time for your holiday marketing strategy! In this post, we showcase three of our best pieces of holiday marketing content, meant to help you get started on your strategy for the fast-approaching 2015 holiday shopping season. 

 

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