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12 Resources for LGBTQ Entrepreneurs

Breaking the Blueprint
January 19, 2023/by
12 Resources for LGBTQ Entrepreneurs Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success. The LGBTQ community is small but mighty, contributing trillions of dollars and thousands of jobs to the economy each year. Despite this, LGBTQ individuals still face marginalization. The community continues to fight against historic and current systematic discrimination, which can present barriers to achieving equity and equality — even when trying to start or grow a business. While progress is slow and not always linear, the good news is there are many resources intended to help give LGBTQ entrepreneurs a leg up. We’ve assembled a list of some of the best out there, which can help LGBTQ business owners thrive through peer networking, educational and leadership training, mentorship, and funding opportunities. Resources for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs 1. NLGCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce) The NLGCC, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, offers the only third-party certification for LGBTQ+ businesses in the U.S. If you complete their program and become a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise®, it opens the door to a new world of sales, networking, and educational opportunities. Government bodies, and many corporations, have supplier diversity requirements — and obtaining a certification like this can put you in the procurement pipeline. The...
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The Four Types of Research Design — Everything You Need to Know

Uncategorized
January 19, 2023/by
The Four Types of Research Design — Everything You Need to Know When you conduct research, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how to accomplish it. A good research design enables you to collect accurate and reliable data to draw valid conclusions. In this blog post, we'll outline the key features of the four common types of research design with real-life examples from UnderArmor, Carmex, and more. Then, you can easily choose the right approach for your project. Table of Contents What is research design? The Four Types of Research Design Research Design Examples Research design involves choosing the right methodology, selecting the most appropriate data collection methods, and devising a plan (or framework) for analyzing the data. In short, a good research design helps us to structure our research. Marketers use different types of research design when conducting research. There are four common types of research design — descriptive, correlational, experimental, and diagnostic designs. Let’s take a look at each in more detail. The Four Types of Research Design Researchers use different designs to accomplish different research objectives. Here, we'll discuss how to choose the right type, the benefits of each, and use cases. Research can also be classified as quantitative or qualitative at a higher level. Some experiments exhibit both qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Experimental An experimental design is used when the researcher wants...
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Ryan Reynolds Offers A Glimpse Into AI-powered Marketing

Marketing News
January 18, 2023/by
Ryan Reynolds Offers A Glimpse Into AI-powered Marketing Welcome to HubSpot Marketing News! Tap in for campaign deep dives, the latest marketing industry news, and tried-and-true insights from HubSpot’s media team. Artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT has been the center of debate online because there are still so many unknowns when it comes to using AI.  Is it ethical? Will it eliminate jobs? How can marketers use it to their advantage?  Ryan Reynolds is offering a potential answer to the latter in his latest ad for Mint Mobile. In the video, Reynolds shares the ad criteria provided to ChatGPT and reads the AI-generated script directly to the camera. He finishes the read calling the technology “mildly terrifying, but compelling.” Reynolds is no stranger to jumping on trending topics quickly through his media company Maximum Effort. Past examples include: The 2019 Aviation Gin ad that served as a response to the infamous Peloton wife controversy was released immediately after the original commercial went viral.  The now-pulled 2021 Peloton ad starring actor Chris Noth aired just days after his character Mr. Big was killed off of the “Sex and the City” reboot “And Just Like That…” On the show, the character suffered a heart attack after riding a Peloton. Back to Mint Mobile. Though we don’t know if Reynolds really used ChatGPT to generate the Mint Mobile script, the video offers a glimpse into how marketers can use AI tools...
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The 18 Most Creative Ad Campaigns in History

Advertising, behavioral targeting
January 18, 2023/by
The 18 Most Creative Ad Campaigns in History I've always been a little leery of proclaiming anything "the best." I never declared anyone my best friend as a kid because I was afraid my other friends might assume I thought less of them. So it was a little difficult for me to come up with just one "best" advertisement of all time—which is why there are 18 in this post instead. But why are these some of the best ads of all time? Because of the impact they had on brand growth and because they hit on some universal truth that makes them memorable years after they first began. In fact, some of us might not have even been alive when these campaigns first aired. But to know what makes an advertisement great, you must first understand what an advertisement is. Advertisements Types of Advertisements Advertising Campaign The Best Advertising Campaigns of All Time (And What Made Them Successful) Nike: Just Do It. Coke: Share a Coke Absolut Vodka: The Absolut Bottle Anheuser-Busch: Whassup (1999) Miller Lite: Great Taste, Less Filling (1974) Always: #LikeaGirl (2015) Volkswagen: Think Small (1960) Google: Year in Search (2017) Dos Equis: The Most Interesting Man in the World (2006) California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk? (1993) Metro Trains: Dumb Ways to Die (2012) Apple: Get a Mac (2006) Clairol: Does She or Doesn't She? (1957) De Beers: A Diamond is Forever (1999) Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like...
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31 Influencer Marketing Stats to Know in 2023

Marketing Strategy
January 17, 2023/by
31 Influencer Marketing Stats to Know in 2023 Influencer marketing harnesses the power of word-of-mouth — and scales it via social media. As a result, it's become a leading marketing strategy in 2023. Here, we've rounded up 31 stats to give you a better picture of the influencer landscape, its effectiveness, and the platforms that get the most traction in this space. Let's dive in. Table of Contents The Influencer Marketing Landscape Influencer Marketing Effectiveness Micro Influencer Stats Influencer Marketing on Instagram Influencer Marketing on TikTok Influencer Marketing on YouTube Influencer Marketing on Facebook Influencer Marketing Budgets What is influencer marketing? With influencer marketing, brands employ online influencers to promote their products or services. This makes influencers the middleman between brands and their audience. While a recommendation from a friend or family member is valuable, it's only a one-to-one interaction. But with influencers, this interaction could happen with hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people. Plus, influencers work hard to gain their audience's trust, making their recommendations more persuasive than other forms of advertising. For all the reasons above, influencer marketing has become one of the fastest-growing marketing strategies today. So, if you're looking to tap into new audiences online, working with influencers can be a powerful way to do just that. Types of Influencers...
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How Tabitha Brown Turned Social Media Videos Into A Lifestyle Empire

Marketing News
January 13, 2023/by
How Tabitha Brown Turned Social Media Videos Into A Lifestyle Empire Welcome to HubSpot Marketing News! Tap in for campaign deep dives, the latest marketing industry news, and tried-and-true insights from HubSpot’s media team. Over the past decade, being a content creator has evolved from a side hobby to a viable career path.  While many content creators have made a successful pivot into entrepreneurship, creator Tabitha Brown has taken things to a whole new level effectively building a lifestyle empire from social media videos. Brown first gained momentum online in 2017 when she posted a viral video on Facebook raving about the TTLA sandwich from Whole Foods, eventually becoming a brand ambassador for the grocery chain. In 2020, she created a TikTok account sharing vegan cooking videos and inspirational pep talks, and her content took off. With over 9 million followers and counting across Instagram and TikTok, she now has a variety of offerings including: The Tabitha Brown Collection at Target Donna’s Recipe, a haircare line An all-purpose seasoning blend called Sunshine in partnership with McCormick  Two bestselling books A children’s show on YouTube …and she isn’t stopping there. Earlier this week, her collection at Target expanded to include plant-based grocery items and quickly sold out in several stores and online. Her haircare brand recently launched a new line and is now available in Ulta stores, and she has a third book...
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15 of the Best A/B Testing Tools for 2023

A/B Testing
January 13, 2023/by
15 of the Best A/B Testing Tools for 2023 Every company has a unique set of customers, so there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for designing an optimal website, crafting the most compelling copy, or building the most effective product. This is where A/B testing tools come in, where you can use them to test and optimize your website or app design, copy, product, and, most importantly, create an experience tailored to customer needs. Read on to discover high-quality A/B testing tools that will help you discover what your unique set of customers prefers.  What makes a great A/B testing tool? Before we jump into the top A/B testing tools, let’s talk about the features you should look for in an A/B testing tool. Look out for:  A/B Tests: The tool should, as a baseline, offer A/B testing. Some have additional capabilities, so consider what else is offered if you’re looking for a more inclusive tool.  Required Skills: Some tools require technical knowledge to build and launch tests, while others have easy-to-use builders for any ability. Some offer both but make sure your tool supports your skillset.  Segmentation Capabilities: Your A/B test tool should offer segmentation and targeting abilities to target your preferred audience groups.  Statistical Analysis and Reporting: The significance of your test results is an essential part of your test, so you want the tool you use to calculate the significance of your results and provide other metrics...
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How to Create a Curated Blog Post [+5 Free Blog Post Templates]

Content Creation
January 12, 2023/by
How to Create a Curated Blog Post I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Not all the content you create has to be 100% original. Mind-blowing, right? And for you inbound marketers plagued by the incessant demands of content creation, maybe also a little comforting? Now before some of you say "But content curation is lazy." and "Content curation is why there is so much stuff on the internet," hear me out. Sure, curated content is a collection of other people's content and resources from around the web. But that doesn't mean it can't be valuable. Just think about a collection of mint-condition vintage toys. Each toy that comprises the collection is valuable in and of itself — but a collection of many is even more valuable. We're going to walk you through how to compile a valuable curated blog post in this post. So, keep reading or jump to the section you’re looking for. What is curated content? How to Create a Curated Blog Content Curation Tips Curated Content Examples Curating is a process that's best known in the art world. Curators choose, organize, and exhibit the work of different artists in galleries and museums. These exhibits usually come together under a common theme or idea. Curated content follows a similar process. Content curators collect content that aligns with a specific topic, area of interest, or theme. They can use these groups of content to: ...
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Tito’s Vodka Enlists Martha Stewart for DIY January

Marketing News
January 11, 2023/by
Tito's Vodka Enlists Martha Stewart for DIY January Welcome to HubSpot Marketing News! Tap in for campaign deep dives, the latest marketing industry news, and tried-and-true insights from HubSpot’s media team.  Participating in Dry January? Martha Stewart has a few suggestions for how to use your Tito’s Vodka if you aren’t drinking it. The vodka company and lifestyle maven partnered to create “DIY January,” a campaign showing the various ways the Tito's DIY January kit can be used around the house, served with a splash of humor. Though the ad spot is clearly a joke it underscores an emerging trend in mindful alcohol consumption. Drizly reported a noticeable increase in non-alcoholic beverage sales in January 2022 — a 48% jump from the prior year’s non-alcoholic beverage sales. In the same report, Drizly also noted products that were perceived as “lighter” such as clean wine and hard seltzer were some of the top-selling products last January. According to Gallup, alcohol consumption for American adults is on the decline and Gen Z’s drinking patterns may be influencing the shift.  Compared to Millennials, older Gen Z’s spend 40% less money on alcohol and are less likely to consume alcohol regularly. A survey by Numerator found Gen Z’s alcohol consumption and purchasing habits are influenced by concerns about how it affects their mood, behavior, and social media presence.  These same themes may ring true for younger members of Gen Z as well, as there...
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