November 2023 Newsletter:

Greetings!

Thanksgiving is next week, so I’m reflecting on the concept of gratitude.

It’s easy to feel grateful for the good things, or when times are great. Not so when you hit a bumpy patch. And entrepreneurship is full of bumpy patches.

So what can we do to create moments for gratitude when things are rough?

My answer for almost everything: walk.

A breathtaking sunset can snap me out of a feeling-sorry-for-myself hole. The warmth of the sun kissing my face can dull the frustration of failure. A light breeze can sweep away the stress and overwhelm.

Walking quite literally grounds me, pulling me out of my head and back into my body, into my environment, and into the moment.

From there, I can find a way to fill my lungs more fully. I can begin to detach from whatever is eating me up. I can broaden my mental horizon to start seeing other opportunities, bright spots, or a brief moment of calm.

And if nothing else, when life is relentless, it provides a chance to simply be.

I would also like to say thank you to you. Thank you for reading our newsletters. Thank you for supporting our new YouTube channel. Thank you for trusting us with your work. Thank you for your referrals, reviews, and recommendations.

It means a lot to all of us here at Marketing by Emma.

(If you feel like giving an extra dose of gratitude, please subscribe our YouTube channel!)​​

And now that we’ve gotten the sappy stuff out of the way, onto this month’s rundown!

1. Does being different matter?

Whether you’re tired of competing on price or you’re looking to build a loyal customer base, developing a clear brand identity is critical. In this brand new video, I’ll walk you through how to do this through a battle of the high caffeine coffees: Black Rifle vs. Melitta.

2. Comparison is key

Amazon is finally starting to understand that they need to make it easier for customers to compare products. Last week they briefly tested a new feature on mobile that allowed customers to create their own comparison charts. UX was not great, but I see this as an exciting step in the right direction (and further evidence that differentiation should be a nonnegotiable part of your strategy).

3. Be prepared 

#2 indicates that Amazon is working to improve the customer shopping experience. With SO MANY options for every search query, businesses must work to position their brands and products as the obvious choice. Learn how to apply benefits and features selling techniques to be prepared for future updates and stay ahead of the competition.

4. Social shopping battle heats up

• Reducing customer friction - less effort translates to more sales
• Increasing access to even better data - particularly valuable in the wake of Apple’s tracking policies
• Minimizing risk of competition - shortens the funnel and minimizes the chances of additional product research

5. Current read

I love a good, unique angle. Donald Miller’s Building a StoryBrand is an approachable introduction to the world of branding.. Miller draws the parallels between the building blocks of a good story and an effective branding strategy. He pairs this with clear steps businesses can take to make more compelling brands.

6. Step up your sales and marketing strategy 

If you don’t use a CRM or if you’re in the market for a new one, check out this HubSpot article about how to choose the best tool (featuring yours truly!).

7. On the topic of tools 

Turbocharge your automation, collaboration, creation, organization, and beyond with the right tool stack. Check out my top 10 business tools to  learn what tools we can’t live without.

8. Guest Podcast 

Want to learn how to turn your words into sales? Check out this episode of the Automated Seller Podcast!

We’re about to dive headfirst into the craziest time of the holiday season, but don’t let that distract you from planning for 2024. Make sure you're ready to kill it in the new year by booking a call with my partner and co-founder, Erez.

Wishing you a record-breaking Q4!

With gratitude,

Emma