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The Ultimate Email Detective: A Lead Generation Hack for Marketers

Unleashing the Power of Email Permutation

Hey there, fellow Space Cadets! It's TGIF and I've been scrambling busy all week long, fine-tuning Read This Space's social media presence to perfection. I’m pretty close to completion, just a few more tweaks to go.

In case you haven't followed us on our various socials yet, fear not! I've got you covered. Check out the links below:

Substack | Medium | Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Flipboard

Now, buckle up and get ready for today's juicy tidbits.

The No-Cost Marketer's Guide to Lead Generation

I wanted to share a lead generation hack that could prove useful for marketers working with zero budget (and everyone else too!). Have you ever needed to search for leads manually online? Perhaps you've tried to find a specific person on Google Search, only to have the top results lead you to business directories where their email address is masked, appearing as:

john****@company.com

le****n@company.com

t****n@company.com

Or worse, have you lost a name card at a networking event and missed out on a potential sales opportunity? Fear not, my friends! The solution is here.

How to Generate a List of Possible Addresses

Business email addresses often follow a specific pattern, such as:

john.doe@company.com

john.d@company.com

johnd@company.com

You get the idea.

By having the person's first and last name, as well as the company's domain address, you can create a list of possible email addresses. With any luck, you'll be able to send your email successfully to one of the addresses.

Here are a couple of free email permutator tools you could use.

http://metricsparrow.com/toolkit/email-permutator/

https://salesblink.io/email-permutator

Generate those addresses and send that email! But wait, this is not the end. Instead of sending over multiple emails and getting all of them bounce back into your inbox, make sure your email hits the target by verifying which address is legit. No need for a crystal ball, just use Google Sheets!

Verify Which Email Is Real Using Google Sheets’s Smart Chips

Get ready to be amazed!

With just a few clicks, you can uncover the true email address of your prospects using Google Sheets' Smart Chips. It's like magic, but real!

Simply paste all of those email addresses you generated with the permutator into a column.

Highlight them all, and select "Insert > Smart Chips > Convert to people chip."

Watch closely as one of the email addresses magically changes to the correct one.

Now, you can confidently send your sales pitch and watch those leads roll in. Of course, this method isn't foolproof, but it's definitely worth a shot when you're on a tight budget.

So what are you waiting for? Give it a try and see the magic happen before your very eyes!

This article was originally from: https://readthisspace.substack.com/p/the-ultimate-email-detective-a-lead

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Curated Spaces #02 — The Power of Storytelling in Marketing

Explore how storytelling can be a powerful marketing tool.

Curated Spaces mission is here to launch you towards the weekend with a trio of informative and inspiring articles to fuel you through the rest of the week!

How to Blend Brainy Strategies with Heartfelt Storytelling

Well, well, well, if it isn’t a fellow artistic soul trying to navigate the treacherous waters of B2B marketing (talking about myself). As a digital design veteran and a former creative ad wizard, I know how tough it can be to break free from the chains of rational, analytical marketing and inject some personality and emotion into our campaigns. But fear not, for I have stumbled upon an article that might just help us infuse some emotion into our marketing storytelling and reclaim our right-brain dominance. Let’s dive in!

Document. DON’T CREATE.

Plugging in one of my favourite quotes of all time from Gary Vaynerchuk. Let’s face it, us creatives can get a little too hung up on making everything look like a work of art before we put it out into the world. I mean, who doesn’t love a good filter, am I right? But sometimes, all that fussing and fiddling can lead us down the dark path of procrastination, where even the simplest project can feel like climbing Everest. I have found a way to break free from this cycle of perfectionism and actually get some darn work done. Are you ready to learn the secret? Let’s do this!

Five Storytelling AI Tools to The Rescue

That’s right, in case you’ve been living under a rock, artificial intelligence is the talk of the town this year, and for good reason — it’s basically like having a team of super-smart robots working around the clock to make your life easier. So if you’re ready to level up your marketing game and crank out that next bestseller campaign, I’ve got just the thing for you. Behold, 5 AI tools that will take your writing skills from “meh” to “OMG, who wrote this masterpiece?!” Let’s dive in, shall we?

This article was originally from: https://readthisspace.substack.com/p/curated-spaces-02-the-power-of-storytelling

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Curated Space #01 — Building a Strong Brand Identity: Tips and Examples

Essential tips you need to know to build a strong brand identity, to the latest trends in digital avatars.

Welcome debut of our Curated Space newsletter! We’re here to brighten up your day and inject some fun into your reading list with a hand-picked selection of interesting articles. Whether you’re on the go, taking a break, or just looking for a quick dose of inspiration, we’ve got you covered. So buckle up, put on your reading glasses (or not), and let’s dive right into the good stuff!

Leaving Your Mark

Building a brand identity is like trying to find your keys in a messy room — it’s important, but it can be a real pain if you don’t know where to start! Lucky for you, we’ve got your back with these 7 tips that will help you kickstart your personal branding or company’s branding game.

Too Shy to Show Your Face? Use Digital Avatars.

Let’s face it, sometimes we just don’t feel like showing our real face on social media — maybe we’re having a bad hair day, or we just don’t want to scare away our followers with our morning look! But fear not, because the future of branding is here, and it comes in the form of digital avatars. These virtual representations are taking the social media world by storm, and even businesses are getting in on the action.

The Importance of Personal Branding

Who says branding is just for businesses? Your personal brand is just as important — after all, you’re the CEO of your own life! But building a standout personal brand takes more than just a LinkedIn profile and a nice headshot.

This article was originally from: https://readthisspace.substack.com/p/curated-space-01-building-a-strong

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Midjourney: Text-to-image AI art generator that is making waves around the world.

How Midjourney's AI Technology is Changing the Game.

(This is NOT a Sponsored Post)

As we usher in the new year, it's clear that AI technology is here to stay. And with the increasing popularity of tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT, people are beginning to see the potential of AI beyond its initial applications. But today, we're going to focus on something even more exciting - the world of AI-generated art. So sit back, relax, and get ready to discover the magic of Midjourney.

Midjourney is an independent research lab exploring new mediums of thought and expanding the imaginative powers of the human species.

We are a small self-funded team focused on design, human infrastructure, and AI. We have 11 full-time staff and an incredible set of advisors.

-midjourney.com

The Quest for the Perfect Image: A Marketer's Struggle

As a marketer, my job often involves scouring the depths of the internet in search of the perfect image to complement my content. Sure, there are plenty of royalty-free stock image sites out there, like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay (these are the sites I currently rely on for image hunting), but sometimes those just don't cut it. And let's face it, no one wants to fork over their entire budget for a single image from multiple paid sites like Shutterstock or Getty Images (unless you're secretly a millionaire or your company has a huge marketing budget every year). It's a never-ending quest for that elusive, magical image that perfectly captures the essence of your message.

Okay, the image above is somewhat unrelated to the content but doesn’t the unicorn look so cute?

Midjourney Saves the Day

For years I have been struggling to find the perfect image to match my content, until recently my friend (Thanks David!) recommended me Midjourney. This nifty little tool is an AI art generator that can bring your text prompts to life with stunning, realistic images. I was blown away by the results - in fact, all the images in my previous post, were generated by Midjourney. It's as easy as typing in your command and letting the AI bot work its magic. Trust me, it's a game-changer.

Here are a couple of examples of images that I’ve created using Midjouney, along with the text prompts that I used:

Even a wizard finds it difficult to define what branding is (cues previous post).

How to Generate Your Own Art Using Midjourney

Midjourney is currently in Open Beta and runs on Discord. So, you will need to create a Discord account first (signing up is free). As a quick side note, what is Discord?

It is a VoIP and instant messaging social platform where users can communicate via voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media, and files in private chats or as part of communities called "servers." -Wikipedia

First things first, create a Discord account if you haven't already. Don't worry if you're not a tech whiz, we've got you covered! Check out the handy guide here.

Once you're all signed up, head over to Midjourney's website and hit the 'Join the Beta' button to hop on the Discord server.

Now, it's time to get creative! Look for the Newbies Channel on the left sidebar and get ready to command the bot to create your images.

To summon the Midjourney bot, type the command /imagine followed by a description of the image you want to create in the 'prompt' field. Hit enter to send your message.

Be patient - it takes a minute or two for Midjourney to process your request. Once it's done, you'll see a grid of 2x2 images, each a unique variation of your original prompt.

From here, you have the power to upscale your image, generate similar variations, or re-roll for a fresh batch of images. When you're happy with your creation, simply open it up to full size and save it to your device.

And voila! You've just unleashed your inner artist with the help of Midjourney. You don’t have to be a tech whiz to complete the steps above (no coding skills required!)

You are now a superhero armed with the power to save the day and create stunning artistic masterpieces.

A Small Price to Pay for Big Results

If you've fallen head over heels for the stunning images generated by Midjourney Bot, you might want to consider subscribing to their plan for a measly USD 10/month (or a more reasonable USD 8/month if you pay annually). After all, you only get about 25 free jobs with the Free Trial. But let's be real, that's still cheaper than your Netflix subscription, right?

Sure, binge-watching Kdramas and blockbuster movies is entertaining and can be a form of de-stressing (guilty as charged), but the whole point of this newsletter is to inspire action towards more productive endeavours. So invest in yourself, start building your brand, and let Midjourney take care of the visuals.

Try it out and don't forget to tag ReadThis.Space on social media.

https://www.instagram.com/readthis.space/

https://twitter.com/ReadThisSpace

Last but not the least, have fun and enjoy the process!

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Cracking the Code: Why Branding is the Ultimate Brain Teaser?

6 reasons to why branding is so difficult to explain.

As a self-proclaimed marketing ninja and design wizard, you'd think I'd have branding all figured out by now. But even with a degree in digital design and years of industry experience, the mere mention of the word still sends shivers down my spine.

Alas, even with my vast experience in various industries, I still find myself scratching my head trying to decode the branding enigma. Whenever I’m posed with the question, "What can we do to build a stronger brand?", my mind goes into overdrive. So, why is branding such a tough nut to crack? Let's unpack it, shall we?

1. Defining Branding

Let's start by defining what branding really means. Some people think it's just a logo, tagline, or fancy marketing campaign. But the truth is, it's much more than that. Branding is the magic that happens when you create a unique identity and emotional connection with your customers. It's the sum total of all the little things you do, from your mission and values to the way you answer the phone. It's the way people perceive your business, the emotions they feel when they think about it, and the overall experience they have with your company.

Basically, branding is like the personality of your business. And just like people, it's hard to define and even harder to change. So if you're struggling to explain it to your boss or clients, don't worry – you're not alone.

2. Branding is Intangible

Branding is like a ghost - you can't see it, touch it or quantify it. There are no concrete numbers or analytics to measure its success or failure. It's all about perception, feelings, and emotions. And let's face it, emotions are hard to put into words, let alone measure.

Think about it - why do people feel so connected to certain brands? What is it about Apple's brand that makes people willing to shell out top dollar for their products? It's not just about the sleek design or the quality of the software. It's the emotional connection customers have with the brand. It's the feeling of being part of a community, the promise of innovation and creativity, and the sense of belonging that comes with being an Apple user.

But how do you measure that? It's not like you can pull up a chart and say, "Well, our emotional connection index is up by 10% this quarter, so our branding is doing great!" It's intangible, elusive, and difficult to explain. But that doesn't mean it's not important. In fact, it's arguably the most important aspect of a company's success. A strong brand can make or break a business, and that's why it's so important to get it right.

3. Complexity of Branding

Branding is like a jigsaw puzzle, with multiple pieces that need to fit together just right to create a complete picture. It's not just about slapping a logo on a product and calling it a day. There are numerous elements that make up a brand, from visual design to messaging to customer experience. Each piece requires careful consideration and planning to ensure that it fits in seamlessly with the rest of the puzzle.

But here's the catch: the puzzle doesn't just involve one person or department. It takes everyone in the company to make it work. That means everyone from the creative team to sales to HR to operations needs to be on board and working together to make the brand strategy a success. That's right, even top management needs to get in on the action. And if the company culture isn't aligned with the brand strategy, it's like trying to fit a square puzzle piece into a round hole. It just won't work.

So, if you're struggling to explain branding to someone, tell them it's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. And just like a puzzle, it takes patience, attention to detail, and teamwork to create a beautiful and complete picture.

4. The Subjectivity of Branding

So, you've gathered the troops, everyone's in line, and the company is all fired up to make this branding strategy work. But wait, hold your horses, because branding is subjective - meaning everyone's got their own two cents on what makes a good brand. The creatives might have a vision that's completely different from the operations team. What clicks for one company may not work for another, and what strikes a chord with one audience may leave another one yawning. It's like trying to explain a joke - some people will get it and some won't. And that's why branding can be so darn tricky to explain in a way that works for everyone.

5. Branding Is Like Playing a Game that Never Ends

It’s a game where the rules keep changing, and you need to keep up if you want to win. Branding is like a game of whack-a-mole that never ends. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, something changes - your target audience may shift, or a new competitor may enter the market. Thus, your branding needs to be agile and flexible enough to handle these changes. It’s like playing a game of Jenga, but instead of wooden blocks, you’re working with your brand’s reputation and customer loyalty. One wrong move, and the whole thing could come crashing down. As your business grows and evolves, so too must your branding strategy. It’s like leveling up in a video game, but instead of earning XP, you earn brand recognition.

But it's not just external factors that can throw a wrench into your branding efforts - internal changes can be just as disruptive. People come and go within a company, and each new addition or departure can shift the company's vision and culture. It takes time to calibrate their vision with the company's vision and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

This game is not for the faint of heart. So buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy (but hopefully fun) ride!

6. Lack of Concrete Metrics

As mentioned above, branding is intangible. Let's face it, branding is like trying to measure love. Sure, there are metrics like brand awareness and brand loyalty, but let's be real, there’s no quantifiable meter to assess this. It's like trying to assess the impact of a smile or the warmth of a hug - it's all in the feels. And while sales and revenue can be easily quantified, branding metrics are more like a game of hide and seek, just when you think you've got them in your sights, they disappear like a ninja in the night. So, explaining the ROI of branding to stakeholders is like trying to explain the plot of Inception to someone who fell asleep during the opening credits.

In conclusion,

Branding is like the chameleon of the business world - it constantly changes color, it's hard to pin down, and it can be a challenge to explain to others. It's subjective, intangible, and ever-changing, making it difficult to measure its impact with traditional metrics. But despite its complexities, branding is essential to the success of any business. As a marketer, it's your job to navigate the ever-shifting landscape of branding and to communicate its importance to stakeholders in a way that they can understand.

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Buckle Up for the ReadThis.Space Experience!

Join the Community of Action-Takers

Ready, set, take off!

Welcome to my very first post on ReadThis.Space! I couldn't be more excited to embark on this journey with you all. I've always been passionate about sharing my knowledge and insights with others. With this newsletter, my goal is to inspire you to take action and grow your brand, all while having fun along the way. So buckle up, because we're in for a wild ride!

1. Why this, why now

It's simple - I wanted a space to bring together my thoughts and passions, and to keep up with the rapidly evolving world of technology and marketing. But more than that, I have a burning desire to build a community of like-minded individuals who are willing to learn, grow, and take action together.

2. Assembling a crew of action-takers

When it comes to building a community, engagement is key. Here at ReadThis.Space, we're all about inspiring action and helping each other achieve our dreams. This isn't just a newsletter, it's a space where like-minded individuals can come together, share ideas, support and empower each other to take action and make things happen.

3. Success insights to fuel action

Hold on tight, folks! I'll be posting regularly, fingers crossed! But hey, life can be unpredictable sometimes, so bear with me if I go MIA every now and then. But one thing's for sure, I'll be curating and creating content about branding, marketing, and success thoughts to help us all kickstart our dreams!

Paid subscriptions will be a way to support me and keep me motivated. In the future, they'll also unlock even more valuable resources and information. So stay tuned!

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