85% of Companies Use Chatbots to Generate Demand

Companies that are offering products and services to other businesses instead of consumers tend to take a different approach when it comes to generating demand. In order to grow at a sufficient rate, companies really have to put out all the stops because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making them more competitive in the market.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that around 85% of all companies tend to use chatbots to generate this demand. This information comes out of a survey that was recently published by Botco AI, and it shows just how critical chatbots are to the growth strategies of B2B concerns.

The people that responded to this survey stated that chatbots help them to understand their customers better than might have been the case otherwise. They usually ask chatbots various questions in order to better ascertain pain points that their customers might be dealing with, and they base their strategies on the responses that they end up receiving.

What’s more, 99% of the marketers who used chatbots to generate leads said that it yielded some pretty positive results with all things having been considered and taken into account. 56% of the marketers who participated in this survey reported a 10% increase in demand.

This just goes to show that conversational AI has a wide range of uses that we haven’t full come to terms with as of yet. 43% of marketers are using chatbots for prospect education as well, and 42% are using them to generate leads that their sales teams can follow through with.

Customer relationships can also be greatly strengthened through the use of chatbots according to around 42% of marketers. Around a 1,000 professionals were surveyed for this report, so the findings are pretty solid. In spite of the fact that this is the case, it only shows a glimpse of what AI chatbots can offer in the future, and we will have to wait and see what their full potential looks like.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

What’s the Best Brand for Influencers?

Influencers quickly turned into a core component of the creator economy, and they also managed to become essential to marketing and advertising agencies as well with all things having been considered and taken into account. In spite of the fact that this is the case, not all influencers end up having positive experiences with brands. Some brands are great for influencers while others can give them a bit of a hard time, and FYPM recently put out a report that shed some light on that.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that FYPM is a platform that allows creators to leave reviews for brands that they have worked with in the past. That’s quite useful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up revealing whether or not the brand paid them on time as well as how reasonable their expectations were.

Checking out this platform can make it easier for influencers to find better brands to work with than might have been the case otherwise. Taking a look at the reviews left on the platform is also a great way of understanding which brands have a good overall reputation among influencers.

Over 5,000 brands have been reviewed, and this report took into account nearly 9,500 reviews that influencers had left for them. The brand with the most positive reviews turned out to be Adobe, with Amazon coming in at a close second. Adobe is especially popular thanks to its flexible demands that makes it easier for influencers to work around their busy schedules.

Following that we have Michaels followed by BioGaia. Empress 1908 Gin rounds off the top five list. We then have Hero Cosmetics and Bob’s Red Mill in sixth and seventh place respectively. Samsung has a pretty good reputation too, coming in eighth place, and then CurlSmith and Fera Pet Organics round off the top ten list.

As for the worst brands, many influencers pointed to disorganization and flawed communication as major pet peeves. A lot of the companies that got the worst reviews were guilty of using bots to reach out to influencers. This can be considered spam, and most influencers would not want to work with a brand that uses such underhanded methods to get in touch with them.

It turns out that the dubious honor of being the worst brand reviewed by influencers went to none other than Crown & Paw. Glamnetic came in second, with MVMT taking up third place. The two other brands in the top five for worst reviewed were VIVAIA and GOLI nutrition. Revive Superfoods also did pretty badly, coming in sixth on this list.

In seventh place we can see Fashion Nova, and Truly Beauty doesn’t do a lot better either since it came in eighth place. NAKD came in ninth, and Daniel Wellington finished off the top ten list by coming in tenth place.

When influencers first came to light, brands were quite discerning about who they chose to work with. It seems like the tables have now been turned. Influencers have a bit more power nowadays, so they are the ones who will be careful about which brands they want to earn their money from through sponsorships and partnerships.

Platforms like FYPM will see an increased level of importance in the coming years. It may even become a critical resource for influencers who want to avoid bad experiences as best they can. There are a wide variety of brands included in both lists, and that just goes to show that influencers have a level of reach that no one could have predicted. Brands might change their behavior now that they know how much reviews matter.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

30% All Malicious Cloud Downloads Came From OneDrive

OneDrive is a popular cloud based storage platform offered by Microsoft, but with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that it might be causing a large number of malicious downloads. Around 30% of all malware doawnloads from the cloud came from OneDrive, which suggests that it is a prime target for malicious actors who want to scam people or hack into their systems.

Users need to scan these sites prior to using them because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up giving them a bit of protection from the harm that they can cause. It’s not just OneDrive that’s to blame either, since SharePoint, Gmail, Box and Google Drive have all seen their fair share of malicious files getting uploaded, as per a recent report.

Cloud service providers have begun offering a wide range of services that seek to make these cloud based platforms safer than might have been the case otherwise. Content Disarm & Reconstruction is an especially useful feature, since it can scan incoming files and discern if they have anything untoward contained within them.

This can be a big help in the fight against zero day exploits and malware, so users need to be educated about them so that they can start using them to protect their data. Data leaks are also a huge problem that can make users lose access to their personal account, and it also has the potential to lead to loss of financial data.

Cloud based storage has been around for a good long while, but in spite of the fact that this is the case it still has a lot of improvements that can be made on the cybersecurity front. With malware on the rise, particularly through cloud execution, users need to stay on their toes lest they fall prey to the enormous amount of harm it can send their way.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Designing Eye-Catching Business Emails for Gmail: Tips and Tricks

By now there is no denying the immense power of email when it comes to capturing the attention of customers and driving conversions. Whether it be sales emails, promotional emails, welcome messages, or newsletters, this simple yet effective tool can provide a huge boost to any successful digital marketing strategy - as long as you know how to make the most of it.

It's estimated there are over 347 billion emails sent and received each and every day, so it’s essential that your emails stand out from the crowd if you want them to get noticed.

Photo: Freepik / Creativeart

For all you Gmail users out there (and there are a lot of you), here are some tips and tricks to help you design eye-catching emails that will increase engagement and get the results you want:

Use visually appealing graphics and images

As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” No matter what message you are trying to convey, accompanying your text with quality images, videos and graphics will help to make your emails more engaging and attractive. For example, if you are running a promotional campaign, use images or videos that showcase your product in action so that your customers can get a better idea of what it is and how it works.

In Gmail, you can even use GIFs to add a bit of movement and life to your emails. Animated images can be used to illustrate complex concepts or just as a way of adding a bit of personality and fun to your messages.

Put some thought into your email signature

Both individuals and businesses criminally underutilize the power of email signatures. Even the most basic signature can be used to add a professional touch to your emails, and highly detailed ones can be used to boost brand awareness and drive more conversions through links to your website and social media pages.

You can access your Gmail signature by going to your settings, then selecting “General” and scrolling down until you find the signature section. From here you can customize your signature to include whatever you would like, such as images, custom fonts, and links.

Incorporation of a clear and compelling call-to-action

One of the first things you should consider when designing your email is your CTA. After all, getting the reader to take action is usually the primary purpose of any campaign, so you need to keep this in mind right from the get-go.

Let's assume you're running a new product marketing campaign. In that case, include a strong CTA that instructs the reader on what to do (for example, "Sign up now" or "Buy now"). On the other hand, if you are simply informing customers about a new product or service, then your CTA could be something more subtle such as "Learn more" or "Discover now".

The most important takeaway is that your CTA should be front and center and easily visible so that your readers do not miss it.

Make your subject line count

As you know, the subject line is the first thing that people see when they receive an email, so it is important that you put some time and effort into making sure it is as captivating as possible.

Some of the most effective subject lines tend to be the ones that are short, clear, and to the point. The ones that are able to grab the reader's attention and pique their curiosity are usually the most successful. Remember, the whole point of the subject line is to entice your readers to open the email, but that doesn't mean you should be misleading them.

Aim to drop a teaser or a hint of what the email is about without giving too much away. Some things you could consider include:

• A key stat or figure
• A question or statement
• An interesting anecdote
• A controversial opinion

Did you know that you can also include emojis in your Gmail subject lines? While it is best to use them sparingly, they can help to grab your reader's attention and make your emails stand out from the crowd.

Optimize for mobile

Nowadays, most of us use our mobile devices to check our emails. While this is ideal from a user convenience standpoint, it can present some issues for the email sender. This is because smartphone and tablet screens are significantly smaller than computers, which means that emails that are designed for desktop versions can look cluttered and unappealing on mobile devices.

With this in mind, you need to make sure that your emails are optimized for mobile devices. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Use images wisely (too many can slow down the loading time)
• Keep it simple (include only essential information)
• Go for single-column layouts
• Use large, easy-to-read fonts
• Test your emails on different devices to ensure maximum compatibility

To make your life simpler, use a mobile responsive template to ensure that your emails look great on any device.

Final word

Designing eye-catching emails for Gmail is not rocket science, but it does require a bit of thought and effort. By incorporating visually appealing graphics and images, putting some thought into your email signature, incorporating a clear and compelling call-to-action, making your subject line count, and optimizing for mobile, you can increase engagement and drive more conversions while enhancing the overall look of your campaigns.

Just remember to test your emails on different devices before sending them out to ensure maximum compatibility and readability.
by Web Desk via Digital Information World

Working Less Leads to A Happier Life, New Study Shows

Workaholism has become a real problem in the world of today, but many believe that they will not be able to get ahead unless they are working an impossible number of hours. In spite of the fact that this is the case, working too much has been shown to have a very negative impact on one’s health. The Health Economics Review just published a study which reveals that working a fewer number of hours can actually lead to a higher amount of life satisfaction.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that it’s not just the number of hours you work which can impact your life satisfaction. Income is also a major factor because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up easing life’s many woes. People in higher income brackets reported that they were more satisfied with their life than those in lower income brackets.

However, working too much can dent the positive benefits of a high level of income. It can lead to feelings of social inclusion and cohesion which can make people unhappier than might have been the case otherwise. Balancing these two conflicting needs is of paramount importance, and the introduction of a shorter work week in various experiments may be able to push things in the right direction with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Working less means that you will have more time to spend with your family and friends, and it also has the potential to give people time for passion projects. In European countries, people don’t earn a lot due to high taxes but these taxes then go on to fund the welfare system which takes care of education, healthcare, transportation and retirement which is a fair exchange.

People will never be truly satisfied with their lives if they are made to work an unreasonable number of hours. This can also lead to decreased productivity down the line, and it might also result in employee burnout in the long run.

Read next: Commuting For Work Can Actually Improve Your Mental And Physical Well-Being As Per This Study
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

54% of Marketing Firms Plan to Increase Budgets

It looks like marketing firms and advertising agencies are going to be switching things up a bit in 2023, at least if the new study from RDD is anything to go by. This study revealed that marketing firms are not going to be backing down from their efforts anytime soon, with a full 54% of them planning to increase budgets in the coming year.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the current recession doesn’t seem to be discouraging marketing companies from doing their best. 73% of the marketing professionals who responded to this survey appear to view the recession as an opportunity because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up giving them a competitive edge.

63% believe that they can one up their competitors by increasing marketing budgets, and 61% also believed that this was essential if they wanted to make it to the other side of the current financial crisis. Furthermore, 30% of marketing professionals who want to increase budgets are saying that they want to avoid losing any momentum, and an increased budget can be useful for that with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Moreover, 71% of marketing professionals said that they plan to divert some dollars to print media. That is quite interesting since it seems to suggest that print media still has some mileage left, but in spite of the fact that this is the case 66% of marketing budgets will still be going to digital.

Still, the renewed focus on print media could mean that it will survive for longer than might have been the case otherwise. With marketing budgets increasing, there may be an abundance of opportunities for both print as well as digital to find new and better sources of revenue, and that will do a lot to improve things across the board. 2023 is shaping up to be a great year for marketing, and increased budgets will create a lot of momentum as well as innovation within the field.

Read next: Infographic - Tips To Successfully Target Your Marketing At Different Generations Using Online Reviews
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

People Spend 33% Less Time Reading Individual Emails in 2022 Than in 2018

Emails can be tough to get through, especially when we allow them to accumulate for such a long period of time. People seem to be getting a little overwhelmed with emails, with current data suggesting that we are spending less and less time reading them than we used to. Research from Litmus has confirmed this, with the average time spent reading a single email decreasing by 33% since 2018.

Back in 2018, studies showed that people spent an average of about 13.4 seconds reading an individual email. Now in 2022, this number has declined to just 9 seconds with all things having been considered and taken into account. Not all emails are given the same level of priority either, with about 30% of emails getting less than 2 seconds of attention. Just 29% of emails get the full nine seconds, with 41% getting between 2 to 8 seconds of time.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that most emails tend to be opened within the 10 am to 11 am timeframe. That makes sense because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing people to get through the first hour of work before settling down to check any emails that they received.

Meanwhile, the least popular time to check emails is between three to four am. That should come as no surprise since this is when people are experiencing their deepest stages of sleep, and trying to check emails won’t end well for anyone involved.

All in all, emails continue to be an important form of communication, but the days when people would read through emails in their entirety might be long behind us. Marketers should take heed of this, otherwise they will get less than two seconds of attention and their marketing campaigns would fail miserably. Creating engaging emails is now more important than ever, and it is essential that the core message get conveyed in under eight seconds or ideally at around five seconds.

Read next: Has Time Online Reached Its Limit?
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World