Receiving a few simple tips about what to post on your social media networks, or how to craft a catchy subject line can make a big difference in how well you market your business. But where do you uncover valuable email and social media marketing tips? On blogs, of course! With that in mind, we’ve compiled 7 stellar social media and email marketing blogs you should be reading (if you aren’t already!). They’re full of so much inside scoop, you’ll be way ahead of the social media and email marketing trends.

Social Media Blogs:
Social media networks are evolving at breakneck speed, and with new ones popping up all the time, how do you know where you should invest your time? Here are 3 social media-focused blogs that’ll keep you current:

1. Social Media Examiner
Social Media Examiner gives you the nuts and bolts you need to create a strong social media presence. While other sites may inform readers on changes and trends, this site really gets down to the nitty-gritty of how to get the most out of your social media pages, often with detailed or step-by-step instructions. What’s also cool, is that their posts cover several social media channels, so you know what’s going on beyond Facebook and Twitter. While the site’s main focus is of course, social media, it does an excellent job of delving into the relationship of social media with other aspects of your marketing, and how to integrate across multiple channels.

2. Mashable
Mashable is a well-known source for up-to-the-minute news on social media, technology, business and entertainment. The speed at which the publication is able to pick up stories, even obscure ones, is quite impressive. If Mark Zuckerberg goes to the bathroom, odds are Mashable knows about it. But seriously, for anything new that happens on Facebook, Twitter, or the other major players in the social game, Mashable gives the play-by-play. The layout of their website makes it easy to take in lots of information at once, and share it across your social media channels. Mashable also does a stellar job of covering buzzed-about mobile topics, which is increasingly important for marketers today.

3. Convince & Convert
Convince & Convert is focused on two things: Social Media and content creation. It offers practical advice about what works and what doesn’t. The mix of content is refreshing – There are some “5-step” articles, some “What not to do” articles, and some case studies of companies who’ve made social media work for them. And, as the name of the company suggests, they don’t leave out the metrics portion of social media. After all, what’s the point in spending time on social media if you don’t see any results? The casual tone and practical length of the posts also make Convince & Convert a digestible way to gain social media insights.

Email Marketing Blogs:
Ever wonder why only a certain portion of people you send an email to ever open it? Or why even fewer people actually click on a link inside of an email? Well, there are ways to get more mileage out of your email marketing with simple changes that’re easier than you may think! Here are a slew of blogs with game-changing techniques and advice for your email marketing.

4. Litmus
Sure, knowing the basics is important, but there’s more to email marketing than good content and click through rates. Litmus delves into the email marketing nuances that many other blogs just don’t tackle (that’s probably because they’re an email testing and analytics company)! If you want to understand why your email is looks different in Gmail vs. Outlook, or if you’re unsure about which browsers you should test in, Litmus covers the more technical aspects of email marketing. It’ll also keep you up to date to all the latest trends in email marketing, like mobile usage, design and optimization. Moreover, the increasing importance of using metrics to track return on investment (ROI) on marketing efforts makes Litmus a very useful resource.

5. Email Institute
The name really says it all. Email Institute (by Epsilon) is a comprehensive site dedicated to email marketing best practices. It’s a great place to go with questions. Whether you have inquiries about email content, design, delivery, or testing – or you just want to know how to grow your email list – the Email Institute has information for you. Consider it a library for your email marketing research!

6. Duct Tape Marketing
While the Duct Tape Marketing blog is not solely dedicated to email marketing, it’s an excellent resource for total marketing strategy, especially for small businesses. It focuses on the whole package – customer satisfaction, content creation, email marketing, social media, branding and so on. Best of all, it’s written in a very direct, non-technical way that anyone can understand. With daily posts by experts in the field, it’s a great way to stay informed and learn simple yet effective steps to improve your marketing strategy.

7. VerticalResponse
We would be remiss if we didn’t tout our own blog here, right? From social media to email marketing and beyond, the VerticalResponse Marketing Blog is, if we DO say so ourselves, an excellent resource for all things small business. And while writing 3-5 new posts on the blog per week, you can bet we have info you’re looking for, and in a timely manner. On top of all of our awesome content we also offer a FREE email marketing tool.  The signup process only takes 30 secs and you don’t need a credit card. Start sending email newsletters and promotions to your customers today! Get Started

These are just seven of the many magnificent marketing blogs out there. Know of any other social media and email marketing blogs you find helpful and insightful for your marketing needs? Let us know!

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