[THE LATEST] New survey shows virtual events are here to stay, how to show personality in your blog content, and 3 costly Facebook and Instagram ads mistakes you can't afford to make this holiday season

Here's THE LATEST digital sales and marketing news, so you can do your jobs better and make smarter decisions faster.

New survey shows virtual events are here to stay, how to show personality in your blog content, and 3 costly Facebook and Instagram ads mistakes you can't afford to make this holiday season ...this is THE LATEST! 📰 Extra, extra! Read all about it! Event strategy: Whenever the pandemic passes, new survey shows virtual events are here to stay He's got a great personality: Learn how to put your personality into your blogs (and why it's so important that you do so) Holiday season prep: 3 costly mistakes brands make with their holiday Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns 🎟️ Tickets for HubSpot Training Day are now $99. But, if you use my code LIZHASFRIENDS you'll get yours for $49! Whether you're a digital marketer, content manager, sales pro, or business leader, there's something for you at HubSpot Training Day ...even if you don't use HubSpot! Oh, boy. It's the first day of October, so you know what that means...  That's right, folks. According to the leaves outside, we have now officially entered "spooky season." 👻 And, on behalf of all my chilly weather-loving comrades, I would like to welcome you to our mutual descent into my absolute favorite time of year — the end of it. It's a divine period punctuated by crunchy leaves, brisk days, sweater-based attire, and as many soups as I can shove into a dutch oven.  Whereas most normal people look toward spring for feelings of renewal and the spark to do great things, the moment I need to don a hoodie is the moment I am moved to do everything, clean everything, purge everything, and evaluate everything. (I may or may not have spent two hours performing an exorcism in my closet today.) You should join me. Yeah, yeah, I get that "spring cleaning" has a nice ring to it. But hear me out — "fall overhaul" actually rhymes. That's what we in the business call "synergy." Of course, if you're still skeptical, you don't have to go all-in on this new concept right away.  Instead, start small. Try sprinkling a dash of personality into your otherwise corporate-sounding blog content. Or perhaps you can consider throwing a pinch of "virtual razzle dazzle" into your otherwise ho-hum event strategy.  And now, here's THE LATEST...   📆 "Why should we consider a virtual events strategy, and how do we get started?" (5-minute read) Even though virtual events have become part of the post-pandemic norm, advertisers and sponsors have been understandably a bit "skittish." Could virtual events be as profitable or worth the investment as the more traditional, pre-pandemic live events? Well, according to a recent Condé Nast survey, 90% of respondents said that even once live events are back, they would still be interested in the virtual offerings. In this article from IMPACT Controller Eric Choma, get the inside scoop on the latest data showing the value of virtual events in the long run, as well as what you need to consider before you embark on your own virtual events strategy. 🤔 You asked, we answered  How long does it really take to plan a virtual event? What does a best-in-class virtual events team look like? ✍️ "Why is it so important to show personality in blog content, and how do we do it well?" (10-minute read) Ultimately, people want to work with and end up buying from people and companies they like and trust. The entire reason that business blogging exists is to create content that leads to revenue. Yes, you have to know what you're talking about and be informative and helpful. But without a personality behind the words, you'll be easily forgotten as another article in the Google abyss. In this article from IMPACT Content Marketing Trainer (and my favorite bath bomb enthusiast) Brian Casey, learn why showing personality in your blog content is so important, as well as his best tips for how to do it well. 🤔 You asked, we answered Why is Patsy Cline's "She's Got You" a master-class in content marketing? Why should we never let fear stand in the way of great results? 🎁 "What are the most costly mistakes we absolutely must avoid for our Black Friday and Cyber Monday Facebook and Instagram ads campaigns?" (6-minute read) Whether you're working with an agency to run your paid social campaigns or you're managing it yourself, it's easy to get caught up in the stress and sparkle of the season and forget that you can control the strength of your foundation. These top three critical mistakes for Facebook and Instagram Ads may seem basic at first glance, but they have the potential to make or break your success this wild Black Friday and Cyber Monday selling season. In this article from IMPACT Facebook Strategist Ali Parmelee, get the lowdown on the three most costly mistakes you can't afford to make with your Facebook and Instagram ads this holiday season. 🤔 You asked, we answered What is a full-funnel Facebook ads strategy? Why aren't our Facebook and Instagram ads converting? 🎬 See y'all at Vidyard's Fast Forward on October 7? The sales world is changing. Are you? Learn how to adapt your sales strategies using video to thrive in a digital-first sales landscape. Vidyard's favorite sales experts (including our own Marcus Sheridan!) will share proven tactics to make connections, get better response rates, push deals to close, and retain customers. Be there, it's FREE.  🎒 Go back to school with IMPACT+ Our new revamped business tools are live! This update brings not only a fresh design, it also includes new functionality. If you go to the left hand side of your IMPACT+ dashboard, you will see Priorities and Strategic Plan which is where all the new tools live, including: You can now create a planning period. You can also assign team members priorities and assignments from our Playbooks. We've also updated the Scorecard interface and functionality.  Yes, you need an IMPACT+ account to access these, but you won't regret it. 🌶️ Hot topics in Elite IMPACT Elite is our exclusive Facebook group for the brightest minds in digital sales and marketing. Here's the latest discussion that caught my eye: What are the best practices for updating outdated information in a YouTube video? ⏰ In case you missed it...  A few of my hand-selected, personal favorites from the IMPACT archives...  LinkedIn rolls out stories feature to all users What is a revenue team? (+ video) Why They Ask, You Answer can still fail even if you have all the right pieces 🌎 Weeklong nonsense With everything going on in the world, you now get nonsense in every single issue of THE LATEST... Ha.  Later, squares! Liz "Boo" Moorehead Editorial Director @naptownpint Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe Sent with 💙 by IMPACT  470 James Street, Suite 10, New Haven, CT