[THE LATEST] Don't Respond to Emails on Vacation, Google Ads Bidding Strategies, Competitor Ads on Google My Business Pages, & How to Create a Content Style Guide

Here's THE LATEST from the marketing, business, and tech world...

Don't Respond to Emails on Vacation, Google Ads Bidding Strategies, Competitor Ads on Google My Business Pages, & How to Create a Content Style Guide ...This Is THE LATEST!  💯 Jump Right into the Good Stuff! Numbers Don't Lie: Research Says We Shouldn't Be Responding to Our Emails While on Vacation Google News: Google Ads Expands Automated Bidding Strategies with 2 New Choices ICYMI: Google My Business Spotted Displaying Competitor Ads on Local Business Profiles Advanced Tutorial: How to Create a Content Style Guide for Your Brand (Ungated + Templates) ⚡ This issue of THE LATEST is brought to you by Digital Sales & Marketing World 2020 — the only conference where marketers, sales, and leadership teams get aligned on digital and ignite true business transformation. This past weekend, I took myself to New York City for some long overdue solo adventuring, rest, and relaxation. I saw two shows — one at Radio City Music Hall and one off Broadway in Times Square. I spent a leisurely afternoon eating my way through the iconic Chelsea Market. I enjoyed a cocktail at an outdoor lounge in Rockefeller Center that takes the place of the ice rink during the off-season. I even had a milkshake with an entire Choco Taco (and two churros) sticking out of it at Black Tap, on the recommendation of a friend: It was a surreal and exciting little trip. Unfortunately, I didn't keep my promise to myself to genuinely unplug from work. I've always struggled with stepping away from my job — and not because I work at a company that expects me to be constantly connected and available.  Quite the contrary. We have an unlimited vacation policy, and IMPACTers are actively encouraged by leadership to take time away to completely unplug, as needed. Although I turned off my Slack notifications, I still found myself compulsively checking my email throughout the weekend. I also spent four hours at a coffee shop on Saturday morning writing 3,527 words for a content project that I couldn't put out of my mind.  I'm trying not to be too hard on myself about my lack of willpower. While I love to joke that I'm an only child who embodies divine perfection at all times, I'm not. Yes, I'm an only child, but I'm not perfect. I'm a human being with flaws — just like everybody else. So, the next time I go on vacation, I need to remember it's one thing to be dedicated and passionate about my work. It's quite another, however, to be a workaholic who doesn't understand the critical importance of "me time." 🌴 Research Says You Shouldn't Work or Respond to Emails While on Vacation   The numbers don't lie. Burnout — which recently became an officially recognized medical diagnosis — is the reason 95% of HR professionals say they can't retain staff. What's worse, 60% of employees say they work on vacation, and 53% of workers feel guilty for taking time off at all because their coworkers have to take over their job duties. In this article, Director of Inbound and Content Services Justine Timoteo talks about her personal experience with burnout, the data that shows why you shouldn't work on vacation, and the organizational benefits of a "no email" approach to time-off. ⭐ RELATED CONTENT: "I Can't Step Away from Work" & Other Lies We Tell Ourselves as Leaders How Leaders Can Break the Cycle of Organizational Anxiety ✌️ Google Ads Expands Automated Bidding Strategies with 2 New Choices Google has announced the expansion of its automated bidding solutions for Google Ads, adding two new options to help advertisers get the best results for their ad spend. For those who don't know, Google's automated bidding strategies utilize machine learning to evaluate and tailor ad bids to help advertisers reach the most people while staying within their budget. Get the full scoop in this article from IMPACT Digital Beat Reporter Iris Hearn, which explains exactly what the two new bidding strategy options are for Google Ads and what you need to know about them. ⭐ RELATED CONTENT: Ungated: The Ultimate Google Ads Guide for Digital Marketers Google Proposes Tighter Standards Surrounding Digital Ad Targeting 💥 In Case You Missed It, Google My Business Pages Are Displaying Ads from Competitors  For local businesses, Google My Business is a great tool that can help customers discover your business and learn more about your services. However, it may also soon be a place where they can also learn about your competitors' offerings. Recently, a Twitter user noticed Google is running ads for local competitors on Google My Business profile pages. Once again, IMPACT Digital Beat Reporter Iris Hearn has the full story, including everything you need to know about this Google My Business update and how these GMB competitor ads could impact you.  ⭐ RELATED CONTENT: How to Completely Optimize Your Google My Business Listing Google My Business Explores Premium Features for a Monthly Fee ✍️ Learn How to Create a Content Style Guide for Your Brand (Step-by-Step Process Overview & Templates Included) A content style guide is a documented set of guidelines and rules that break down your brand personality, and how it is (and isn't) expressed through your content. This completely ungated playbook will give you the strategies and templates you need to create one on your own for your brand. In this advanced tutorial — developed and written by yours truly — you'll learn what a content style guide is (and isn't), what should be included in it, how to run your own content style guide workshop, how to write your style guide from your workshop findings, and much, much more!  ⭐ RELATED CONTENT: Another Advanced Tutorial: How to Create a Brand Messaging Strategy What Should & Shouldn't Be Included in Your Brand's Content Style Guide? 🎧  Our Latest Shows & Podcasts  Avoiding Instagram Influencer Fraud (Inbound Success) NEW Live at the INBOUND Podcast Lounge with Stephanie Baiocchi & Nick Bennett (Hubcast)  How to Close More Deals Using Assignment Selling Videos (Film School for Marketers) Using Personalized Video to Boost Marketing & Sales Results (Inbound Success)  How to Really Win the Afternoon... or Not (Creator's Block)  📆  Upcoming Digital Sales & Marketing Events Are you at the Digital Agency Expo this week in New York City? If so, catch the fireside chat with IMPACT CEO Bob Ruffolo tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:30 a.m.! Bob's session — "The 7 Most Important Things You Can Do to Grow Your Agency" — is a "can't-miss" for agency owners.  Check out the full Digital Agency Expo agenda for more information. The Annapolis HubSpot User Group (HUG) that was originally scheduled for earlier this month has been rescheduled to this week — Thursday, September 19! Learn how to create actionable case studies that will drive revenue growth for your business. This talk will feature powerful examples of what it means to evolve into an authentically customer-centric organization at the next Annapolis HubSpot User Group event. Save your seat for THIS THURSDAY at 6:30 p.m. ☝️Remember, HUG events are always free to attend, and you don't need to be a HubSpot user! Our monthly live Website Throwdown returns on September 26 at 1 p.m., Eastern! You can submit your website to be critiqued by our experts, or you can save your seat to watch the action "ringside" during the live broadcast. Learn more about how to get in on the Website Throwdown action. Psst — I'm going to be the special guest on this month's throwdown! Be there! 🗞️ What I'm Reading Right Now Without preamble or context, here's what I'm reading: With inclusivity and diversity being such incredibly important topics, this anonymous "confession" from a minority marketer from Digiday is a powerful read. With the recent release of the second edition of They Ask, You Answer, this series of humorous charts about the realities of publishing a book feels particularly relevant. And in search engine news, Google says their new algorithm change will favor original reporting. 🐕 One Last Thing I am obsessed with They Can Talk, a web comic. Not just because it's funny, but also because this is my life working from home every single day: Sigh. At least I always feel protected with Nugget around. Later, squares! 👋 Liz Murphy Director, Web & Interactive Content @naptownpint I'm not interested at this time Sent with 💙 by IMPACT  470 James Street, Suite 10, New Haven, CT