Welcome back to McFarland Minutes, your soft launch to Monday! Today, we’re diving into the second installment of our three-part series, where we explore the top 10 questions frequently asked at our marketing creative agency. Last week, we tackled three questions, and today, we’re excited to delve into three more, exploring the dynamic realm of email marketing, the strategic use of paid ads, and the best marketing books you should have on your shelf. Let’s jump right in!

Is Email Marketing Dead?

TLDR: No.

As a tool with an impressive ROI, email marketing continues to hold strong. It effectively connects with your audience, especially when executed with quality content and proper segmentation. Understanding your audience and catering your messages specifically to them can dramatically increase engagement. You’ll need to strategize how to do this without bombarding inboxes and instead tailor every interaction to the segmented audience. Email marketing isn’t just alive; it’s thriving, offering a direct line to your consumers without the unpredictability of social media algorithms (this is huge).

Should I Be Doing Paid Ads?

This one isn’t as black and white.

Generally speaking, we say yes, but with a strategic approach. Paid ads should complement your existing marketing efforts, like organic social media, email campaigns, and influencer collaborations. They are not the initial step but rather a supplementary strategy to support your marketing efforts when done consistently. For those with a substantial budget, paid ads can effectively amplify your reach. But remember, whether you’re working with a modest budget or a large marketing budget, it’s essential to measure the return and integrate these ads as a part of a broader, well-rounded strategy.

Where can I learn about marketing?

While there are many marketing continuing education resources, we’re passionate readers. We frequently seek advice on the best marketing books, and while we previously discussed this in our book club episode, here are some top picks reiterated for your convenience. “Know What You’re For” offers a strategic perspective on aligning both personal and professional goals. “Unreasonable Hospitality,” though not strictly a marketing book, teaches invaluable lessons on customer service and community connection. Other recommendations include “Good to Great” and “Purple Cow” for both foundational understanding and fresh perspectives. As we move forward, check our episode’s show notes for more book recommendations to enhance your marketing mastery.

We hope these insights enhance your marketing strategies. Stay tuned next week for your soft launch on Monday.