Ending the year with a long list of freebies!

It doesn't matter where you live, once December kicks in vacation auto-replies start kicking in as well! I know, this isn't a very festive way to tell you it's time to relax and enjoy the beautiful season, but it's too true not to share :)

I hope by the time you're reading this you'd be preparing for a wonderful vacation and if you haven't, this is a reminder to focus on having fun for a change.

Since this is the last #InTrends of 2022, I am filling it with a long list of free resources and guides. But no worries, it's equally filled with some great insights by the industry's giants.

Before we begin, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a relaxing end of year.

Here's a special gift for you, a one-month subscription to improve any skill or learn any hack you can think of! I've learned A LOT using SkillShare, and currently improving my website development skills.

Now let's jump in.

Study finds most marketers have no idea who their audience is

HubSpot, a marketing solutions provider, surveyed 1,200 markets and made some alarming conclusions:

1. Only around 40% of marketers are aware of their audience's general interests, buying patterns, and the products they consume
2. 31% of marketers are aware of the online communities their target audience is part of
3. Only 29% of marketers are aware of the challenges their potential clients face
4. A whopping 82% of marketers say having high-quality data on their target audience is important to succeed in their role, but more than half of them say they're missing key information.
5. Only 27% of marketers say their marketing data is fully integrated with their systems and tools.

How to fix things?

1. Rely more on first-party data rather than online traffic analysis tools. Periodically gather and update information from your loyal customers. Understanding their motivation is much more important than merely knowing which products they are checking on your website
2. Integerate your data with insights regarding your customers in one CRM. Using one platform to understand market patterns allows you to make better results
3. Make sure your customer insights include the following: Hobbies, interests, buying history, social causes they care about, challenges they face, media content they consume, and communities they are part of.

Time for the 2nd batch of freebies!

• The data-driven marketers' planning guide for 2023
• 2023 marketing strategy and trends report. Includes data from 1,200+ global marketers
• Marketing Plan Template 2023
• Digital Marketing Statistics and Metrics for 2023: Compare your website, social media, automation, and email marketing stats with global averages.

Here are some effective ways to grow your email?list

This one is from Ahrefs, the SEO solutions provider,

1. Location, location, location: Add the sign-up form in highly visible locations. Ideally, on the top of the right panel or, in general, on the right side of highly visible pages
2. Offer free resources. Free budgeting template, ultimate guides, ...etc
3. "Subscribe for a chance to win" is always a winner. Of course, you need to maintain a steady flow of valuable information to maintain readers' interest
4. Less is more. Aim for the right balance of frequency and limit straightforward adverts to once a month. Ideally, periodically survey your subscribers for their preferred content, frequency, and motivation to continue to receive your newsletter
5. Segment your list. Not everyone is at the same stage of the funnel or is interested in the same thing. Send different versions of your email to each segment of your audience

The role of AI in your marketing strategy

Marketing Charts, a data provider, joined forces with Salesforce, a software company, and surveyed 6,000 marketing managers, directors, and VPs in 35 countries. Here's what they found.

1. 68% of marketers have a well-defined AI strategy
2. 90% are automating customer interactions
3. 88% use AI tools to personalize customers' journey
4. 75% use AI to ease advertising and media buying planning

Thank you for reading 2022's last newsletter, and thank you for joining me on this journey. I really hope these insights and tools have helped you get closer to your goals.

See you all next year, but before I go, a final batch of free resources

• B2b Content Marketing Report for 2023
• Marketing planning bundle for 2023
• 10 competitive analysis templates