Start Now
Now is the time to start planning your marketing for the Black Friday through Cyber Monday — even if you’re not a retailer. These four days mark the busiest buying season of the year, and consumers are more engaged, checking emails, social media, and websites for deals, ideas, and solutions. “That means your audience is paying attention,” said E.L.I.T.E. Authorized Local Expert Ken Countess. “Whether you offer services, memberships, or B2B solutions, you can leverage this surge in attention to grow
How to Capture More Business More Easily
It happens all the time. You go to an event, meet someone new, and share a genuine conversation. They smile, hand you their card, and say, “I’ll follow up.” You leave feeling hopeful, maybe even excited about the possibilities. And then — silence. Days turn into weeks — maybe even months. The connection you thought had potential simply fades away. It makes marketing expert Ken Countess sad because those lost opportunities are more than missed business deals. They’re missed potential
How to Generate More Sales
When you market your business, the biggest mistake you can make is sounding like everyone else. “Great service, fair pricing, trusted experience” — those words could describe any competitor. “What sets you apart?” asks certified, globally recognized email marketing expert Ken Countess. If you’re a realtor, maybe it’s your neighborhood expertise, staging skills, or ability to negotiate tough deals. If you’re a plumber, it could be your same-day response, spotless cleanup, or text-ahead arrival
Times Have Changed
Seminole County, FL – September 18, 2025 - If you’re still marketing like it’s 2014 — or even 2021 — you’re guilty of leaving money on the table. How are you guilty? Times have changed — in a big way when it comes to marketing. For example, SEO — a popular tool for over 10 years — is hardly relevant today. Today it’s all about AI-powered search, social discovery, and thought leadership. And for many small businesses — and even big businesses, chasing every "shiny new platform" only adds
Marketing Smarter: Start With Past Buyers
Seminole County, FL – September 11, 2025 - Reaching new customers can be costly and time-consuming — but your previous customers already know, like, and trust you. That means they’re far more likely to buy again, and to spend more when they do. Studies show it costs 5–7 times more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one. Plus, repeat buyers often become your best advocates, referring friends and family at no cost to you. Here's a real-life example from Ken Countess. He said: “I live
Summer’s Over Here’s what to do now
The end of the Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial the end of summer. The weather has begun changing for many of us. Here in Orlando, thankfully, there's now a noticeable cooling down from the day's stifling heat and humidity each evening. So now that summer’s basically behind us, so are the distractions, right? This is the time to reset, refocus, and make real progress on the goals you’ve been putting off - you know, the ones to grow your business and get you the lifestyle you're seeking. No
Avoid These 5 Things
Seminole County, FL – August 28, 2025 - The top email marketing mistakes are surprisingly common. #1 - Sending the same email to everyone—without segmentation—makes content irrelevant and lowers engagement. #2 - Weak or misleading subject lines hurt open rates and trust. #3 - Neglecting mobile optimization is fatal since most emails are opened on phones. #4 - Sending too often (causing fatigue) or too rarely (people forget you) ruins consistency. #5 - Failing to include a clear call-to-action
You’re Easily Forgotten
Seminole County, FL – August 20, 2025 - In today’s noisy world, people are bombarded with messages every minute — social media posts, texts, ads, and endless notifications. The truth? If you’re not showing up in someone’s inbox, you’re simply forgotten. Out of sight means out of mind. Social feeds move too fast, phone calls go unanswered, and even great conversations fade quickly. Email is the one channel that keeps you remembered. It lands directly where your audience makes decisions: their
5 Top Mistakes in Email Marketing
If you're not getting the results you thought you'd get with your email campaigns, it's likely you're making a simple mistake. More often than not, there's a quick fix. Here are the top 5 mistakes I see people make in email campaigns — and why they can quietly kill results: 1. Only sending when you want to sell - If your audience only hears from you when you have an offer, they won’t feel connected. Fix: Email regularly with valuable tips, insights, or stories so your sales messages feel natural,
Should You Use Email or Social Media?
When deciding between email marketing and social media, the best strategy is often to use both. Email marketing offers direct access to your audience’s inbox and delivers the highest ROI of all marketing tools - over 36 to 1. It's especially good for nurturing leads and driving conversions - personal, measurable, and ideal for delivering tailored content. Social media has an ROI of 12 to 1. It helps boost brand awareness, reach new audiences, and foster engagement through likes, shares, and
You’re the Expert
This may seem obvious, but it bears mention. People open their email inbox every day - but they're not usually looking to buy something. They're looking to learn something: how to live a more healthy lifehow to make more moneylearn about upcoming events When you consistently share your expertise — through emails, blog posts, videos, social media, webinars, or even helpful comments — you position yourself as the go-to person in your field. People are naturally drawn to confidence and
List Hygiene What It Is and Why It Matters
List hygiene is a critical yet often overlooked component of effective email marketing. Over time, email lists naturally decay—people change addresses, lose interest, or mark messages as spam. If left unchecked, these inactive or invalid contacts can hurt your campaign performance and damage your sender reputation. Maintaining a clean list by regularly removing hard bounces, unsubscribes, and inactive users ensures higher deliverability and engagement rates. Email service providers track metrics
Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Before you hit send on that next email, pause. One hasty message can damage your credibility, confuse your audience, or even cost you a client. The phrase “check yourself before you wreck yourself” rings especially true in email communication. Start by reviewing tone — is it respectful and clear, or could it be misread? Typos and grammar mistakes may seem minor but can undermine professionalism. Always double-check names, dates, and links; nothing says “I didn’t care” like sending someone the
Summertime Emails Can Be Highly Effective Emails!
Seminole County, FL – July 9, 2025 - Summer can be the perfect time for an email campaign. While some assume audiences are disengaged, summer often brings a more flexible, mobile-friendly routine — making email a key channel for staying connected. People check inboxes from the beach, the airport, or between outdoor meetings, often with fewer work distractions. This can lead to higher open and click-through rates, especially for messages that are light, timely, and relevant. Summer is also a great
Passive Marketing
Studies have shown that many people check their inboxes 20 times (or more!) each day. Email works as a powerful passive marketing strategy by delivering messages directly to an audience that has already shown interest — they're on your list! Start with a welcome series, product drip, or follow-up after a purchase — and then you can set it up to continue to run automatically — engaging subscribers without constant manual effort. Unlike social media posts that quickly disappear from feeds, emails stay
3 Biggest Mistakes People Make With Email Marketing
Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools to grow a business, but only when done right. Here are the three biggest mistakes people make, according to Ken Countess, a Constant Contact Authorized Local Expert: Ignoring the Audience:Many marketers send generic emails that don’t speak to their audience’s needs or interests.Without personalization or segmentation, messages feel irrelevant—and end up in the trash. Overloading with Content:Long emails full of text, images, and multiple
5 essential steps to launch successful email campaigns
Email marketing remains one of the most effective digital marketing strategies—when done right. Here are 5 essential steps to launch successful campaigns: Define Your Goal:Before hitting send, know what you want to achieve.Clear goals guide your content and audience targeting. Build a Quality List:Focus on growing a permission-based email list.Avoid buying email lists, which often lead to poor engagement and spam complaints. Segment Your Audience:Not all subscribers are the same.Segment your list by
Why Growing Your Marketing Email List is Important
“Your email list is your most valuable asset,” said Certified Marketing Expert Ken Countess. “Owning a list means you are not dependent on other companies.”The important part is to understand that growing it pays off royally.Think of growing it the way a farmer grows crops.This poem illustrates it:"Sow the List" A farmer knows to till the land, To plant with care, to work by hand. The field won't yield with hope alone— It needs each seed deliberately sown. So it is with names you grow, Each one
The Truth About Email Unsubscribes
It might surprise you to read this, but yes, email unsubscribes can actually be good for your business. When uninterested subscribers leave and opt out of your mailings, your engagement rates (opens, clicks) often improve, making your emails more effective and boosting deliverability. A smaller, more engaged list is more valuable than a large one full of inactive users—and usually cheaper to maintain. Unsubscribes also offer valuable feedback. If people are leaving after specific emails, it’s a
The Fortune is in the Follow Up
“I go to a lot of networking events - these days they are mostly Chamber of Commerce meetings,” said Certified Marketing Expert Ken Countess. “It surprises me how many people are disappointed by the results they get from attending these events.”The reason is simple.Most businesses don't offer a product or service that's an "impulse buy" - whether a physical product or a service.What this means is that an initial contact - like meeting someone for the first time at an event - rarely results in a sale.And, of
The 2nd Most Important Part of an Email
The most important part of an email is the "from name".That's the first "gate" that the sender of an email must pass.The subject line, then, is arguably the 2nd most critical part of any email.The subject line determines whether your message gets opened or ignored.With inboxes flooded daily, recipients often scan subject lines to decide what’s worth their attention.A clear, compelling subject line can significantly increase open rates, while a vague or misleading one can lead to your message being deleted
The Most Important Part of an Email
“Most people think the #1 most important part of an email is the subject line, but it’s not,” said email marketing expert Ken Countess. Ken continued, “It's actually the ‘From’ name”. (The subject line ranks 2nd.) Why is that so? It's because consciously or subconsciously, when people open their inbox, the first thing that look at is: "Who sent me an email?" Emails coming from people or businesses they recognize get opened first. Businesses that send emails on a regular basis will find their
4 Ways AI Can Help You Energize Your Marketing
AI is weaved throughout almost every area of marketing. “It is revolutionizing marketing by enabling businesses to engage with customers more effectively and efficiently than ever before,” said certified marketing expert Ken Countess. Here are some key ways AI is being utilized in marketing: Personalized Customer Experiences: By analyzing data from previous interactions, AI can predict customer preferences and behaviors, enabling businesses to offer personalized recommendations, targeted content, and
Why Some Emails Always Get Opened and Others Never Get Opened
“This week, I had conversations with several people who check their inbox many times each day, but who weren't sure what it was that made them open some emails and not others,” said Certified Email Expert Ken Countess, a Constant Contact Authorized Local Expert. “It boils down to this,” Ken continued. “People who are ‘always selling’ consistently get low results, while those who sent mostly informative or educational emails consistently get great results.” The simple principle that can make a
Ken Countess of KEN IS EMAIL Honored As Local Business Person of 2025
Alignable, the largest online networking platform for small businesses, announces that Ken Countess of KEN IS EMAIL has been elected as an Alignable 2025 Business Person of the Year! Alignable’s 2025 Local Business Person of the Year Contest reached unparalleled participation levels, logging a whopping 333,000+ votes, 77,000+ recommendations, and 4,750 winners across the U.S. and Canada. The largest online networking platform for business owners, Alignable.com invited its 9 million+ members to
See How Videos in Your Emails Get You More Business
Over a recent weekend, email marketing expert Ken Countess helped a friend figure out how to use video in his email campaigns.“Adding a video to an email is one of the best things you can do,” Countess said.According to respected sources:Video can increase open rates by 19% and click rates by 65% while reducing unsubscribe rates by 26%. (Campaign Monitor)Over 90% of people who watch videos on their smartphones share them with their network. (Wordstream)Video marketing can grow revenue by almost 50% faster
Are You Stuck in Neutral?
Last week Certified Marketing Expert attended (and had a display booth at) the Small Business Expo in Orlando.The show brings together like-minded people - many of whom have businesses on a great growth trajectory because they are actively marketing their business.“What's really surprising to me”, Ken said, “is how many attendees stop and speak to you, enthusiastic about their business at the show, but who then take little clear action to stimulate their own business growth. It's almost as if they're stuck
Surge
An analysis of email marketing released earlier this month by Digital Silk reveals 96% of consumers now check their email daily.The study further found that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased the level of content quality - enhancing personalization and effectiveness.“This latest surge in email usage and effectiveness further emphasizes how important email is as an integral part of your company's marketing efforts,” said certified email marketing expert Ken Countess.Want to learn
Your Secret Sauce
Consistency is key in marketing, and a weekly email helps you stay top-of-mind with your audience.“That's why I send an email to my list every Tuesday,” said certified email marketing expert Ken Countess.Here’s why sending one email each week can have a lasting, positive impact on your business, according to Ken:Keeps Your Business Relevant – Regular communication ensures your audience remembers you, making them more likely to engage when they need your product or service.Builds Stronger Relationships –
Email Remains King Among Consumers
Email marketing continues to outperform social media by a wide margin. With a 36:1 ROI, email marketing trounces social media for return on investment. One of the foremost reasons for using email is that you own your list – you’re not handicapped by social media algorithms that determine who sees your campaign. To maximize effectiveness, follow these tips:Have a hook.Grab attention and get the audience invested in what you have to say.Include a (short) story.It enables you to build rapport.Have a
14 Day Free Trial
The nearly 100 international attendees of a recent online "Power of the Inbox" class were highly engaged, asking great questions about how to use email marketing. Their rave reviews prompted Certified Email Marketing Expert Ken Countess to offer a one-time only 14-day free trial of his Email Marketing Academy "Essentials" Starter Course. “It has been years since I have made any kind of an offer like this - and I may not do it again - so take advantage of it while you can,” Ken said. The Email
Free training for your members!
If you run a Chamber of Commerce or trade association, offering members additional value encourages them to stay involved and to renew their membership. With just a phone call to Certified Email Marketing Expert Ken Countess, you can do just that – offer a great member benefit, free of charge. For a limited time, Ken is offering free workshops to Chambers and trade associations in person or via Zoom. Ken has trained over 10,000 businesses how to generate more sales with his award-winning classes. He
Super Bowl or Super Bust?
Like many people, email marketing expert Ken Countess watches the big game each year mostly for the commercials.To him, this year's event was a big letdown. “Not only was the game unexciting, but (in my opinion) the commercials were uninspiring, too,” Ken said. “Truth be told, I switched off the game during the second half.” Ken continued: “But despite my disinterest in football, I watched to see which companies had the best ads. The ‘big spender’ brands made their presence known in ways that were
Ken Countess of KEN IS EMAIL Again Named a Constant Contact Certified Partner
Ken Countess, CEO of KEN IS EMAIL, has again been named a Certified Partner by Constant Contact, a digital marketing platform trusted by millions of small businesses. As a Certified Partner, Countess has demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the Constant Contact digital marketing platform and best practices. This ensures program participants and the clients they serve will realize meaningful results from their investments in email and online marketing. “Most people are not ‘born marketers’. I’ve been a
Free Workshops to Grow Your Business
Looking to grow your business or nonprofit? Certified Marketing Expert Ken Countess offers live workshops nearly every week. Most are via Zoom. Some are in person. “I know how tough it is to run a business,” Ken said. “I offer these classes to help fellow business owners get more sales. Topics range from email marketing to social media to getting more customers to growing your influence online.” Find out which classes are available right now (and register to attend) by going
Is Email Still Relevant?
With so much online activity, many people wonder if email is still relevant. The answer is a resounding "yes". 88% check their email inboxes 3 or more times each day. Over 20% check their inboxes over 20 times per day. Here's the latest info on how often email inboxes are checked: “ZeroBounce's Email Statistics Report for 2024 says 81% of Gen Z members (people born after 1996) were found to check their email at least once a day - defusing the notion that this age group spends all of their time on
How to Eat an Elephant
People seem to be paralyzed by marketing.The paralysis always boils down to not knowing what to tackle first - there's always so much to do.Marketing Expert Ken Countess says: “Boil it down to the old adage of how to eat an elephant. If you haven't heard the ‘how’, it's to do it one bite at a time.”“Trying to do it all at one time can seem insurmountable”, he continued. “When it comes to marketing, start small. And if you don't want to divide your time between marketing, operations, sales, or other aspects
Make “Quitter’s Day” a Thing of the Past
Seminole County, FL – January 9, 2025 – Did you know the second Friday in January is nicknamed Quitter’s Day? It’s when most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions—only 10 days in! This might not come as a surprise, considering two of the most common resolutions are: Eating healthier Exercising more But let’s be real—these goals are usually the first to go when life gets hectic, challenges come up, or the changes start to feel overwhelming and just "too hard." Here’s the thing: Resolutions
Ready for a Fresh Start for 2025?
If you’ve ever started the year saying, “This is it — I’m finally going to lose weight!” … only to see that excitement fade, you’re not alone.But guess what? This year can be different. “Imagine stepping into 2025 feeling lighter, more confident, and with a solid plan in place,” said certified Life and Weight Coach Vicky Countess. “That’s exactly what my 6-Week Kickstart Program is here to help you achieve! Here’s what you’ll get: Simple weight-loss tips and hacks—no more overcomplicating things. A
'Twas the Click Before Christmas
Typically at this time of year, opens and clicks tend to slow down, unless you're selling holiday gifts. But don't stop your marketing during the holidays. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that since many businesses take the holidays off, inboxes will be less cluttered. As a result, your message will be more easily seen. Use it as the time to educate your reader - show your value instead of selling, and you will likely be rewarded by higher loyalty - since they know you're not always trying
Tuesday: The Email & Social Media Power Play
SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL — December 11, 2024 – Social media platforms are powerful tools, but they are just one piece of the marketing puzzle. If you’re relying on social media or email alone, you’re missing out. Join Constant Contact Partner Ken Countess to learn how to make the most of email and social media to grow your business by attending “Engage & Convert: The Email & Social Media Power Play”, a free webinar. It’s on Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 from 12:00pm ET - 01:00pm ET Certified Marketing Expert Ken
Email Builds Loyalty To Your Brand
Social media is good for getting brand awareness.Email builds loyalty to the brandCertified Marketing Expert Ken Countess says: “I recommend using social media tools to first get attention to your brand and then to build a following with additional actions.”“The next action is to add those followers to your email list. Educate them (without selling) so they can learn how your business can help them live a healthier life, make more money and/or utilize your business more effectively,” he continued. “With
Black Friday
With Black Friday on the horizon, leveraging email marketing can significantly enhance your campaign effectiveness. Certified Marketing Expert Ken Countess says: “Unlike social media, email allows for personalized messaging that resonates with your audience's preferences and purchase history.” “Targeted emails boost engagement and increase conversion rates,” he continued. “Additionally, email marketing is cost-effective, offering high ROI.” Learn more here: https://conta.cc/4ftfmYm #BlackFriday
Last Chance to Lose Weight During the Holidays
The holiday season is here — the lights in many neighborhoods are already up and stores are filled with festive decor.It is also a season for celebrations - maybe you’re travelling or hosting guests - and likely surrounded by all the tempting food.But what if this year, you could truly enjoy it and feel good about your choices and lose weight?“Yes, it can definitely happen,” said certified Life and Weight Coach Vicky Countess.Starting Monday, November 18, you can be a part of "Enjoy the Holiday and Lose
How to Handle Holiday Food Pushers (and Still Enjoy the Season)
As the holiday season gets into full swing (all the ads and lights have already sprung up), you might already be seeing the treats, big meals, and… yes, the food pushers.“It's the time of year where food traditions and family dynamics blend, making it even harder than usual to say no,” said Certified Weight and Life Coach Vicky Countess. Here are a couple of pro tips:Plan Ahead: Think about what foods you truly want to enjoy and which you’ll skip. Having a plan keeps you focused on your goals and helps you
Enjoy the Holidays and Lose Weight, Too
Interested in getting through the upcoming Holidays and actually losing some weight?If so, you’re in luck!Join an affordable online 8-week group program starting Monday, November 18 that will give you:Ongoing support and motivationAccountability to help you stay on trackPro tips for holiday indulgence without the weight gainThe cost is only $149.“I will show you how to lose weight while still being able to enjoy the holidays,” said Certified Weight and Life Coach Vicky Countess. Reserve your seat and
Pop Quiz
SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL — October 23, 2024 – Quick: What's the most important part of an email?Pick one:Your nameYour subject lineYour contentSomething else“The most important part of an email is actually who is sending it,” said Ken Countess, CEO of KEN IS EMAIL. “When you open up your email inbox, the first thing you're looking for is who sent you the email.” Not the subject line, not the content. It's who sent that email to you. And so for that reason, it's important not only to have a recognizable
How Not To Lose $1,000s Of Dollars Each Month
SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL — October 3, 2024 – Many small business owners love to attend networking meetings.What’s surprising is how many don’t use email marketing.It’s surprising because they are having to show up in person at each meeting to stay visible – that’s the only marketing they do.So once the networking meeting is over, they are quickly forgotten – which becomes lost business.Instead of losing business, using email marketing to stay “top of mind” keeps their brand visible.A simple email each month to
How To Get More Attendees At Your Events
Usually, the best measure of the success of an event is to get as many attendees as possible.More than any other tool, email is what makes that possible.It creates awareness, excitement and anticipation - and gives your readers a way to spread the word about the event by forwarding your email to people they know."Yes, social media may help get awareness, but email ‘cements’ participation,” said marketing expert Ken Countess. “Email keeps excitement high.”Here’s a "best practice" email calendar for virtual
Are You Unique Enough That You Have No Competitors?
It is a fact that unless your product or service is irreplaceable and there are no substitutes for what you offer, you need to market your business - otherwise, you'll be forgotten.Few, if any, products or services that have no substitute - there's always going to be a competitive product or service of some kind that can be a substitute."We have no competitors is a naive way of thinking,” said marketing expert Ken Countess. “Unless your product or service can not be substituted by anything else on the
