6 Awesome MailChimp Automation Hacks – Lead Scored Emails, Pre-Filled Forms & More!

For the last couple of years, I have been running marketing automation campaigns for large corporations and multinational brands that want to take their marketing strategy to the next level. The work involves advanced clustering and segmentation, automated email flows, social media integration, lead management, and other push and pull mechanisms for personalizing the brand’s […]

Mobile Signals Report: Will Your App Reach $1M in Revenue?

Tapjoy, a marketing automation and monetization company, has released its Mobile Signals Report, which studied the mobile app behaviors of 149 million users and found five major trends that may be useful for developers to determine whether their apps will reach $1 million in revenue. Tapjoy examined user behavior in 479 apps with session counts over 1,000, from October 2013 to December 2014. The report focused on developers from Korea, Japan and China, a fast-growing but still relatively new market.

First, Tapjoy found a strong connection between the number of players making three or more in-app purchases and the likelihood the game would reach the $1 million revenue threshold. The study found 84 percent of apps with 1,000 or more users who complete three or more in-app purchases within the first 83 days eventually reached $1 million in revenue. Apps that had 4,000 or more users completing three or more in-app purchases reached $1 million 100 percent of the time.

When analyzing these three individual purchases, the study found users are more willing to make the first purchase, with \"dramatic drop-off rates\" afterward. For that reason, Tapjoy says first-purchase rates are potentially misleading when determining whether an app will reach a desired performance threshold. The report showed 35 percent to be the key number for reaching the $1 million revenue mark, with the \"vast majority\" of apps that had at least 35 percent of their first time purchasers go on to complete a third purchase reached that revenue number.

Tapjoy went further, analyzing average gameplay session length, in-app purchase trends in relation to the time of day or month, and more. The report showed the top 10 percent of games by revenue had an average gameplay session of over 25 minutes, and that 20 percent of monthly revenue is earned during the first four days of the month.

Since this data doesn’t provide a guaranteed formula for determining the lifetime value of users or the eventual revenue of new mobile games, Tapjoy says developers should \"rely on multiple perspectives, with close attention to nuances, to piece together [their] revenue picture.\"

The full Tapjoy Mobile Signals Report is available here.

6 Simple Steps to Creating Your Content Marketing Strategy

Creating a content marketing strategy is no simple task. In fact, 2/3 of marketers feel they aren’t successful with their content marketing. For both small and large businesses, the content you create is the main bridge connecting your brand to your customer.

Last week, the hot topic of the Social Media Marketing World gathering in sunny San Diego was the critical importance of strong content marketing that captures and converts your customer. Captivating, concise, and consistent content is a core part of any brand. Joe Pulizzi, founder of the well-known content marketing hub Content Marketing Institute and author of Epic Content Marketing shared a simple 6-step process to create your content marketing strategy. Although his session was mainly geared toward small, new businesses and entrepreneurs, it serves as a great reminder and framework for big businesses to take a second look at their current content marketing strategy.

Here are 6 simple steps to creating your content marketing strategy:

1. Sweet Spot: The key first step to building your strategy is building an audience with a targeted group of people. It is not only about finding the sweet spot of what your audience wants to hear, but also finding the sweet spot of your knowledge and passion, so the content you are creating can connect on a shared level.


2. Content Tilt: Because there is such a vast and relentless content overload flooding the Internet, your content needs an edge or a “tilt.” So how do you make your content unique and differentiate yourself from other people out they’re writing about the same topics? When creating content, you should ask yourself: Is this story worth telling?
   
   Your content should be niche. To start, Joe suggests you follow in the steps of every media company and create an editorial mission or as he calls it: A Content Marketing Mission Statement.
   
   In this mission statement there are 3 stages that must be touched on: 1. Define Core Target Audience. You really should only target one. If you target more than one group, you aren’t going niche enough. 2. What will be delivered? 3. The outcome for the Audience. Tip: Add a column to your content marketing calendar spreadsheet called “outcomes”. This will help you define what the audience will get out of the post.


3. Building the Base: In this step, you actually begin creating your content. You should focus only on one content type, one main platform, having consistent delivery over a long period of time. In this step, consistency is key. Another important thing media companies can’t do is miss deadlines and neither should your brand.


4. Harvesting Audience: Building your audience is one feat, but maintaining subscribers is a whole other battle. One of the key metrics you should focus on is subscribers, your frequent flyers. After all, we as brands do not own Facebook or Twitter followers. Subscribers to your blog or email should be your main focus. Next, you should begin building an influencer list. This should consist of a small key base.
   
   However, many marketers make the mistake of thinking that these influencers will become advocates. The key for building this initial influencer list is to use them for reach. After that, you shift your focus on building more authority with your newly acquired eyeballs.


5. Diversification: Focus on being great at one thing on one platform. Then diversify.


6. Monetization: After successfully building your subscribers and you feel confident you have a solid base, then you can begin to think about monetizing your brand. On average, it takes 15-17 months to monetize your content. Your goal in the beginning should not be how to make money. First, build an audience with a targeted group of people. Then, monetize it.

YouTube megastar Michelle Phan launches new lifestyle network

If launching her own beauty line and record label wasn't enough, YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan announced today that she's partnering with Endemol Beyond USA for their new lifestyle network, ICON.

Phan will be the creative director for Endemol Beyond, which currently boasts 500 million monthly views via its multi-platforms: YouTube, Yahoo, AOL, Amazon Fire TV, among others. The 27-year old will mentor other online personalities while cultivating a streamlined vision for the network.

See also: 8 Not-So-Magical Secrets From a Former Disney Princess

Endemol Beyond, under the Endemol Shine umbrella, currently boasts over 500 million monthly views with its Premium Channel Network available across more than 20 platforms. Endemol Shine is best known for producing shows like American Idol, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Man v. Food and more. Read more...

More about Video, Media, Youtube, Social Media, and Celebrity

Portable Solar Panels – Tips To Buy The Right One

The clean energy industry is a booming market in recent times, when the protection of the environment seems to be a priority for all. Solar energy has long been accepted as the best source for the safest and efficient energy that humans produce electricity for our consumption needs. Most countries are opting for this system ...

2K Unveils WWE 2K Simulation Game for Mobile

2K has announced WWE 2K, the first simulation-based WWE video game for mobile. Developed by n-Space, in conjunction with 2K studio Visual Concepts, the game will offer gameplay inspired by its console-based counterparts in the original WWE 2K franchise.

In WWE 2K for mobile, players will have access to multiple gameplay modes, including a career mode and live multiplayer matches. Gamers can choose from a roster including WWE Superstars John Cena, Hulk Hogan, Sting, Triple H, Undertaker, Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt (among others), or create their own Superstar to take into the ring.

WWE 2K will feature three match types, full WWE Superstar ring entrances and comprehensive move sets. As gamers play, they’ll unlock various rewards.

In a statement, Greg Thomas, president at Visual Concepts, commented on the game:

WWE 2K marks a great milestone in 2K’s partnership with WWE, as we bring the first authentic WWE simulation experience to market for mobile devices. WWE gaming enthusiasts will soon experience WWE action and several fan-favorite modes inspired by the WWE 2K flagship console series in an engaging new way.

WWE 2K is expected to release on iOS and the Amazon Appstore in Spring 2015. The game will cost $7.99. Check back soon for more.

Indie comedy starring all your favorite Vine celebs launches Kickstarter

Comedians and Vine stars Jason Nash and Brandon Calvillo have a new project that is largely inspired by their real lives: a full length film called FML: A Social Media Adventure.

The film centers around two men who travel across the country making short videos on a Vine-like app called Reload, trying to boost their social media following. Along with achieving viral fame, FML is also about the strong friendship between Nash and Calvillo's characters, as well as the real-life one that inspired it.

See also: 19 Viners Funnier Than Anyone You Know IRL

FML: A SOCIAL MEDIA ADVENTURE • Kickstarter Campaign Video from Fantail Entertainment on Vimeo. Read more...

More about Videos, Movies, Social Media, Comedy, and Vine