What a coronavirus content strategy should look like, 5 virtual event software options for your now-remote event, and 6 problems with outsourcing website content to a freelance copywriter ...this is THE LATEST!

🔥 Hot off the presses

• What now: How to prioritize your content strategy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic
• Your event reimagined: 5 best virtual event softwares to use for your now-remote event
• Seriously, keep it in-house: Here are the 6 big problems with outsourcing your website copywriting to a freelancer

🏆 Digital Sales & Marketing Day — a virtual event that will empower you and your business to thrive during these uncertain times — is happening on April 6, 2020. Use code "LATEST39" to get your ticket for ONLY $39 — a $260 savings! 

If I had to choose, I'd say my book collection is my favorite thing I own.

This is due in part to the fact that I love reading — duh. More than that, however, I've accumulated these books over the years from different relatives, so it's become a way to keep my family with me always. No matter where I decide to call "home" on a given day, week, or month, or how much time passes. 

But hiding among the classics, history books, outdated atlases, artist retrospectives, and a downright aggressive number of publications dedicated to the subject of flower arranging (thanks, mom ¯\_(ツ)_/¯), is what I consider to be probably one of my little library's crowning jewels...

Originally published in 1952, and expanded and revised in 1974, this riveting page-turner addresses brand new "entertaining concerns." For example, "how do you serve a sit-down dinner without a maid?"

Buckle up, folks. This book is an outstanding snapshot in time.

I guess it's time for me to pep myself up and approach my work at IMPACT as an exciting project! And I will succeed, gosh darnit!

Laugh all you want, but two women were seated next to each other at dinner party in Austria-Hungary in June 1914... and that's how World War I really started.

Sorry, Susan. You're on your own when it comes to bird shot. Also flies.

I like to crack this book open whenever I need a good laugh — I kid you not, there's an entire section dedicated specifically to the etiquette rules for men and women lighting each other's cigarettes in an office environment.

But I also like to skim through it when I need a bold reminder that, as much as we try to resist change (individually or as a society), change is inevitable.

Whether that change is initiated by unexpected world events, technological advancement, recessions, or simply the passage of time, change is a part of our lives and should be embraced. 

Often, when we are tested, pushed to our limits, or otherwise challenged to do something differently is when we surprise ourselves with our capacity for resilience, innovation, and compassion.

It's also when we learn who we really are, what we're really made of, and what we really want out of life. You may be surprised what you find.

So, don't close your eyes to it — even if it scares you. 

Actually, especially when it scares you.

👉 "How should we be approaching our content strategy as a business amid the coronavirus pandemic?" (2-minute read + podcast)

Businesses the world over are still adapting to this "new normal" brought upon by the coronavirus pandemic — including IMPACT. But, earlier this week, a content manager for an office interiors company in Canada reached out for help on a specific topic. How do you reimagine and/or reprioritize your content strategy, if at all, during these uncertain times? To answer that question, IMPACT Editorial Content Manager John Becker and I invited Brian Casey and Will Schultz (content and video heavy-hitters at IMPACT) to have a candid, deep discussion about how your content strategy should (and shouldn't) change, what we're doing at IMPACT, where video now fits in, and more.

💬 You asked, we answered 

• Is content marketing even relevant anymore with coronavirus now in play?
• What should be included in our coronavirus marketing strategy checklist?

⚠️ "Our whole team is now working from home, and we are struggling — how do we keep our teams aligned, our business afloat, and thrive beyond this crisis?" (Here's how)

With recent events rapidly making the remote workplace a new standard, it’s more important than ever to ensure your sales and marketing teams:

• Have the right tools to thrive in a digital sales space.
• Are aligned on what will quickly move leads to close. 
• Are focused on what moves the needle, not vanity metrics.

IMPACT’s proven methodology to succeed in a remote, digital environment was created during the 2008 recession and has helped thousands of businesses beat the competition — even the toughest economic times. 

• I want to learn more about how IMPACT can help us thrive during these uncertain times
• I want to talk to someone more generally about our most pressing digital marketing challenges as a business

👉 "OK, now that in-person events aren't an option, what are the best virtual event softwares out there?" (6-minute read)

Numerous marketers and thousands of companies are dealing with exactly what I’m going through: scrambling with their team to triage an in-person event that, due to COVID-19 (or coronavirus) has been abruptly cancelled, rescheduled, or sitting in event purgatory awaiting the next steps. Sound familiar?  You’re not alone. We just went through this at IMPACT. So, to help you make the best choice for your now-remote event, IMPACT VP of Marketing Vin Gaeta shares in this article the five absolute best virtual event software options on the market today.

💬 You asked, we answered

• We're still struggling with our event sponsorships, what can we be doing better?
• How can we drive tons of registrations for our webinar?

👉 "Wait, why shouldn't we outsource our website copywriting to a freelancer? Shouldn't I want to work with a pro?" (5-minute read)

Whether you’re finally redesigning your business website or building your first one, you have an important question to answer: who will provide the copy for all of those pages? If that's you, there's a good chance you’re thinking about finding someone else to handle all of that copy for your website. It sounds easier (and smarter) to leave that job to a "pro," right? Well, not so fast. In this article from IMPACT Lead Content Marketing Trainer Kevin Phillips, you'll learn the six most common problems you'll likely face when trusting your website copywriting project to a freelancer. 

💬 You asked, we answered 

• What should be included in our website strategy?
• Is hiring an in-house content manager really worth the cost?

🎧 Latest shows and podcasts

• Coronavirus content strategy (Content Lab) NEW 🔥
• Virtual selling for face-to-face sales teams (Film School for Marketers) NEW 🔥
• HubSpot Service Hub with David Barron (Hubcast) NEW 🔥
• Using buyer intent data to get better marketing results (Inbound Success) 
• The farewell episode (Creator's Block)

⚠️ Resources from our pals at Petra

Not only do we coach our own clients, we have our own coaches at IMPACT, as well — the incredible and inspiring team at Petra, whose sole goal is to help businesses and entrepreneurs thrive. 

In response to coronavirus, Petra has put together this fantastic resource center for businesses trying to make it through these uncertain times, including webinars, articles, and other valuable insights.

🌶️ Hot topics in Elite

IMPACT Elite is our exclusive Facebook group for the brightest minds in digital sales and marketing, with almost 6,000 members. And right now, there are three audience polls that require your attention:

• Have your podcast consumption habits changed at all during the pandemic?
• Which headline is more appealing as an entrepreneur or business leader?
• Are you turning off your email nurturing campaigns during the pandemic?

🎶 Weekend nonsense

Don't ask questions. Just watch:

Seriously, just watch. 

Stay safe this weekend — and wash 👏 your 👏 hands 👏!